A regional leader of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML) Lal Pataka faction was killed in what Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) claimed a gunfight in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia early today.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Kuddus alias Sagar, 47, son of Tarok Ali of Urakandi in Rajbari Sadar upazila, our Kushtia correspondent reports quoting Rab-12 official Mohaiminul Haq, additional superintendent of police.

Sagar was an accused in a dozen cases including two for murder filed with different police stations in Kushtia and Rajbari.

Acting on information that a group of criminals were holding a meeting at Kaya village in the upazila, a Rab team conducted a drive in the area around 3:30am, the official said.

The elite force members asked the criminals to surrender but the criminals opened fire on them prompting them to retaliate triggering the “gunfight”, the official said.

At one stage, the criminals fled the scene, leaving Sagar’s body on the spot, he added.

Rab recovered one rifle, one pistol, one revolver, 13 bullets and a machete from the spot.

Two Rab personnel were injured in the incident, the Rab official claimed.