Cox’s Bazar: Reported gunfights in Maheshkhali and Teknaf upazilas between police and ‘criminals’ early Sunday left a suspected terrorist and a drug peddler dead.

In Maheshkhali, suspected terrorist Mohammad Karim Prokash, alias Mahmud Karim, son of Yusuf Ali and an accused in several cases, including that of murder and robbery, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police at Shaplar Deba.

On information, police conducted a drive in the area in the early morning, said Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Maheshkhali Police Station.

Sensing the presence of police, the ‘terrorists’ opened fire on the law enforcers, forcing them to fire back, triggering the gunfight.

After the gunfight, police recovered the body of Karim from the spot.

In Teknaf, suspected drug trader Imran Hossain Prokash, son of Azizul Haque of Paschim Sikdarpara, was killed in what was said to be a gunfight with police in Dorgarchhora.

Tipped off that a gang of drug traders gathered in the area for Yaba trading, police conducted a drive there, said Ranjit Kumar Barua, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station.

Sensing the presence of police, the OC claimed, the drug traders made a gun attack on them, prompting them to fire back.

After the drug traders fled the scene, the police team spotted the bullet-hit body of Imran, the OC said.

Three policemen were also injured in the gunfight, he said.

Police recovered two firearms, some bullets and 7,000 Yaba pills from the spot.