Benapole: A handcuffed accused, who escaped from police custody on Sunday, was killed in a reported gunfight between two groups of drug peddlers in Ayapur area of the Jessore‐Narail Highway in Bagharpara upazila of Benapole early on Monday.

The deceased is Sabbir Hossain, in his twenties, of Khalilpur village of the upazila.

The Bagharpara Police Officer-in-charge Motiar Rahman said police went to the area on information of a gunfight between two rival drug peddling groups around 2:00am.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers the drug peddlers fled the scene. Later, police found the body of Sabbir from the spot, he added.

‘We have sent the bullet‐hit body to Jessore Medical College Hospital for autopsy,’ he added.

Police also seized 107 bottles of Phensidyl from the spot, OC Motiar Rahman added.

Earlier on Sunday night police arrested Sabbir from his house in the upazila.