2 ‘drug peddlers’ injured in Satkhira ‘gunfights’

Two alleged drug peddlers were shot in separate "gunfights" with police in Sadar and Debhata upazilas of Satkhira early today.

The two are Biswajit Sarkar, 22, of Palashpol Madhumollar Dangi village in Sadar upazila; and Nuruzzaman, 24, of Baliadanga village in Debhata upazila, reports our Satkhira correspondent.

In Sadar upazila, acting on a tip-off that illegal drugs were being sold in Bejurdanga bridge area of Islampur village in Satkhira municipality area, a police team raided there, said Kamal Hossain, a sub-inspector of Satkhira police superintendent's office.

Sensing presence of police, some unidentified drug peddlers hurled crude bombs at the law enforcers, forcing them to retaliate with gunfire that triggered a "gunfight" between them.

Police later found bullet-hit Biswajit and recovered 100 yaba tablets and four bottles of phensidyl from the spot.

Another team of Debhata Police Station led by sub-inspectors -- Nazmul Alam and Masuduzzaman -- conducted a drive in Bismillah brick kiln area of Pushpakathi village in the wee hours of today.

During the drive, the perpetrators swooped on police exploding crude bombs triggering another "gunfight" that left Nuruzzaman injured.

After the "gunfight", the law enforcers recovered 20 bottles of phensidyl and two bottles of Indian liquor from the scene.

Both of the alleged criminals are undergoing treatment at Satkhira Sadar Hospital with bullets injuries in their legs, said Parimal Kumar Biswas, a doctor at the emergency unit of the hospital.

However, Aminul Mollah, father of Nuruzzaman, claimed that his son was not involved in any illegal drug trading.

Police picked him up from Ashu market area on Sunday and he heard about the "gunfight" in the morning.