Rapid Action Battalion today said seven robbers were killed in an alleged gunfight in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila.

The deceased were members of a robber gang, locally called Zoki group, said Senior Assistant Director (media) of Rab Headquarters Shujoy Sarkar.

They are also suspected to be Rohingya refugees, Lt Mirza Shahed Mahtab, a company commander of Rab-15 said in a text message sent to The Daily Star.

What happened?

The gunfight took place when a team of Rab-15 were conducting a raid on a hill at Jamimora Mosoni area after receiving a tip-off, sources at Rab said.

Seven bullet-hit bodies were recovered from the spot following the raid, Lt Mirza Shahed Mahtab confirmed.

Law enforcers also recovered three pistols and many rounds of bullets from the spot, the official added.

Contacted, Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, said the bodies were sent to Cox's Bazar General Hospital for autopsy.

Police identified three of the deceased as Faruque, Emran and Noraiya, the OC said.