Police acted bravely in Fakirapool anti-narcotics drive: Home adviser

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday praised the police for showing courage during an anti-narcotics operation in the capital's Fakirapool area where three suspected drug traffickers were detained following exchange of fire.

"The police acted with great courage. Even after being shot at they managed to detain three suspects and seize drugs and a vehicle," the adviser told journalists after visiting injured police personnel at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

One of the injured, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), sustained a bullet wound on the abdomen.

However, the bullet did not hit any vital organs and his condition is stable, Jahangir said, adding that doctors will monitor him for 24 hours before removing the bullet through surgery.

Another injured officer, a constable, was shot in the leg and is being transferred to Rajarbagh Police Hospital for further treatment.

During the operation, police seized 9,000 yaba pills from the suspects' vehicle, said the adviser.

The adviser said the Detective Branch (DB) of police being tipped off about a vehicle coming from Chattogram carrying drugs a team from DB's Lalbagh Division set up a check post in Fakirapool.

"When the team signalled the vehicle to stop, it tried to flee. About 600 yards ahead, police managed to stop it. Then one from the vehicle opened fire, injuring three police officers," Jahangir said.

When asked whether police are adequately equipped to protect themselves during such operations,  the Home Adviser said, "Police will use the kind of weapons necessary to do their job effectively."

The adviser also instructed the authorities concerned to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured officers.