Gunfight with drug smugglers: 3 cops hurt

Cox’s Bazar Correspondent :Four people, including three policemen, were injured in an encounter with Yaba smugglers in Teknaf upazila early Thursday.The three injured policemen were identified as Sub-Inspector Rajesh Barua, 35, constables Nihir Chandra Bhoumik, 40, and Habibur Rahman of Teknaf Police Station, while the injured civilian was suspected Yaba smuggler Ramjan Ali.Officer-in-Charge of Teknaf Police Station Ranjit Kumar Barua said that they had secret information that a gang of smugglers with a huge consignment of Yaba tablets was crossing the Naaf River in a bid to enter Bangladesh territory from Myanmar. “A team of police reached Keruntali area under Hoyaikong union of the upazila around 2:30am and was waiting to arrest the gang,” said the OC.When the gang was crossing the Naaf River, the police team challenged the gang, numbering 7 to 8, who fired bullets into the law enforcers, triggering a gunfight, said the OC.The three policemen and smuggler Ramjan suffered bullet wounds.Later, police arrested Ramjan along with 1,000 Yaba tablets, two rounds of cartridges and one light gun.Injured Ramjan was admitted to Sadar Upazila Health Complex. The others, however, managed to flee the scene. A case was filed in this connection.Police arrested Ramjan with 20,000 Yaba tablets some days ago. But he was released from jail on bail and again engaged in smuggling of the drug, added the OC.