'Drug dealer' killed in C'nawabganj 'gunfight'

A suspected drug dealer was killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion at Tantipara ghat in Chapainawabganj's Shibganj upazila early yesterday.

He is Abdul Alim, 45, of Naya Lavanga village of the upazila.

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Acting on a tip-off, a team of Rab-5 from Chapainawabganj camp went to Tantipara ghat area for an anti-drug drive around 1:50am, said Abul Khayer, an official of the Rab camp.

Sensing presence of Rab personnel, the criminals opened fire. Rab members returned fire, triggering the “gunfight”. 

After the “gun battle”, the Rab men found Alim bullet-wounded. He was taken to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead, the Rab official said.

However, Alim's wife Motiara Khatun told this correspondent that Rab members picked up her husband from a tea stall at Ghora Stand of Sadar upazila around 9:00pm on Thursday.

Motiara said she came to know it from locals and found her husband's body at the hospital morgue yesterday.

Contacted, the Rab official denied the allegation of picking up Alim. 

Alim stood accused in five drug cases filed with police stations in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi and Kishoreganj, said Rab.

Rab also claimed to have recovered two pistols, two magazines, five bullets and 6.7kg of cannabis from the spot yesterday.

Five Rab members were also injured in the “gunfight”. They took treatment from the hospital, Rab said.