Police arrest four after Cumilla shooting of schoolboy during drug-related clash, firearm recovered swiftly. Photo : BSS

COMILLA, June 29, 2026(BSS)- Police have arrested four people, including one alleged gunman, and recovered a foreign-made pistol and six rounds of bullets in connection with the shooting of schoolboy Ethan Ahmed in Cumilla city.

The information was disclosed at a press briefing at Kotwali Model Police Station by its Officer-in-Charge (OC) Touhidul Anwar here today.

According to police, tensions erupted on June 24 between two local groups, known as the ‘Apu Group’ and the ‘Sabbir Group,’ over the illegal drug trade in Katabil area of the town. The dispute escalated into an armed clash and exchange of gun fire on June 25.

During the incident, Ethan Ahmed, a class six student of Rafiq Uddin Memorial High School, was passing through the area when he was struck by a bullet.

Following the shooting, the district police launched a joint operation involving the Detective Branch (DB) and Kotwali Model Police Station.

Within 12 hours of the incident, police arrested Jamshed Hossain Shrabon, 22, who was directly involved in the shooting. He was detained in Kotwali area along with a foreign-made pistol believed to have been used in the attack and six rounds of live bullets.

Subsequent operations in different parts of the country led to the arrest of three more suspects: Asif, 26, Ashik, 35 and Iman, 19. Police said all four suspects are residents of the Kotwali area of the town.

OC Touhidul Anwar said efforts are continuing to arrest the other suspects who remain at large and to recover additional illegal firearms linked to the case.

The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Cumilla said that the law enforcement would maintain a zero-tolerance stance against criminals involved in illegal weapons and drug-related activities. 

He added that those responsible for the shooting of Ethan have been brought under the law promptly and that police operations against illegal arms and drugs will continue.