'Drug peddler' dies in 'armed-battle'

BENAPOLE, July 27 (UNB): An alleged drug peddler was killed in an 'armed-battle' with members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Agrovulot border area here early Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Sujon, son of Abdullah of Kagojpukur village in Benapole.

Lieutenant Colonel Imran Ullah Sarkar, commanding officer of BGB-21 Battalion, said on secret information that a group of 10 to 12 drug peddlers were about to enter the country with a consignment of contraband Phensidyl syrup from India through the border, a BGB team launched a drive.

Sensing their presence, the smugglers threw some bombs targeting the BGB personnel forcing them to fire back in self-defense, he said.

Later, BGB members found Sujon dead on the spot. They also recovered three bombs from the spot, he added.

The body was kept at Jashore Sadar Hospital while a Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) bomb disposal team disposed the bombs.