A suspected drug peddler was killed early Wednesday in an alleged gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Ratanpur border in Joypurhat's Panchbibi upazila.
The deceased was identified as Rabiul Islam Mintu, 38, son of Abdul Jalil of Gopalpur village in the upazila. RAB said he was wanted in 19 criminal cases.
A team of RAB-5 conducted a drive in the area around 3 am, said Company Commander of RAB-5 Joypurhat camp, Additional Superintendent Mohaimenur Rashid.
Sensing presence of the elite force, the criminals opened fire and triggered a skirmish.
At one stage, Mintu was caught in the line of fire and sustained gunshot injures. He died while being taken to Joypurhat Modern Hospital.
Two members of RAB were also injured in the gunfight.
Two foreign-made pistols, a shutter gun, two magazines, eight bullets, 502 bottles of phensidyls, and 1,200 pieces of Yaba pills were recovered from the spot.
However, Mintu's family claimed that Rab picked him up from Atapara BGB camp on Tuesday.
