A suspected criminal was killed in a “gunfight” with detectives in Mymensingh town early yesterday, barely half an hour after his arrest.

The deceased, Abdus Salam alias Kala Chan, 42, of the town's Baghmara Medical Gate area, was an accused in eight cases filed over different crimes, including murder, mugging and drug peddling, with Kotwali Police Station, according to the law enforcers.

A team of Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Salam with 50 yaba pills in Rally Mour area of the town around 1:45am, said Md Ashikur Rahman, officer-in-charge of DB, Mymensingh, who led the drive. The DB team also seized a knife from him.

The shooting incident took place around 2:15am when the DB team took Salam along and went to Mymensingh town's Alia Madrasa Road area to arrest Siraj Uddin, an alleged “drug trader”, the DB official said.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, Siraj and his cohorts opened fire at the detectives, forcing police to retaliate, triggering the "gunfight".

Salam was hit by a bullet on his chest, the police official said. The critically injured man was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Two police constables - Kawsar Habib and Shafiqul Islam - were also injured in the incident. They are undergoing treatment at Mymensingh Police Lines Hospital.

Police claimed to have seized two sharp weapons and two used bullets from the spot.

Salam's body has been sent to MMCH morgue for autopsy and a case has been lodged.