Bogura drug suspect Putu Sarker dies in ‘gunfight’

Putu Sarker, brother of expelled Jubo League leader Matin Sarker, has been killed in a ‘gunfight’ during the ongoing anti-drug crackdown in Bogura.

Putu, 45, was wanted in five cases and known as a drug kingpin on the local police list.

The body of Putu was recovered after the gunfight between two gangs of drug peddlers on the eastern side of the city's Bhatkandi Bridge on Thursday night, said Ali Ashraf Bhuiyan, superintendent of police in Bogura.

Putu was the son of Mojibur Rahman of Chaksutrapur area in Bogura town. His brother Matin is the general secretary of the Bogura District Truck Owners Association. Matin was a joint general secretary of the Bogura unit of the ruling Awami League’s youth front before his expulsion from the party.

Their other brother, Tufan, was the convener of the City Sramik League.

A year ago, Matin and Tufan raped a girl after abducting her from home. Later, they beat her and her mother and shaved their heads.

Following the incident, they were expelled from the party and two brothers landed in jail in the case.  Later, Matin was released on bail.

“After a tip-off that two gangs of drug peddlers engaged in a gunfight, police rushed to the scene and opened fire. Later, a bullet-hit body was found while others fled,” said SM Badiuzzaman, chief of the Sadar Police Station.

The body was recovered and taken to Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead, he said.

Two guns, eight bullets and 500 yaba pills were recovered from the scene.

“Since the drugs were found on the spot, we suspect that those who were involved in the gunfight were drug peddlers,” said Badiuzzaman.

Putu was wanted in five cases filed with the Bogura Sadar and Shibganj police stations. Soon after the anti-drug campaign began across the country, Putu went into hiding.