The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Two front-ranking leaders of the outlawed Purba Bangler Communist Party (ML-Lal Pataka) have been killed in a fierce gunfight between some of his associates and a joint team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police at Shantapara area under Jhikra Union Parishad (UP) of Bagmarai upazila of the district in the early hours of today, police sources said.

The extremist leaders were identified as Jalil, 30, son of Ismail Chakder and Mustafizur Rahman, 28, son of Hossain Ali, both of Koaliapara village under the same UP. They were fugitives of a number of criminal cases including some sensational killing and extortion ones.

On a tip-off, the joint team went to the Shantapara area to arrest the underground terrorists and recover the illegal firearms and found some 10/15 terrorists holding a meeting for committing subversive activities beside a crop field at around 1.45 a.m. Sensing presence of the law-enforcing agency personnel the outlawed criminals started opening fire indiscriminately that led to a fierce gun-battle between them, which continued for around 15 minutes.

Shortly after the incident, the operation team with assistance from neighboring people found Jalil and Mustafiz with bullet wounds and rushed them to Bagmara Upazila Health Complex where the attending doctors declared them dead.

The team also seized two locally made firearms, one cartridge and some indigenous weapons from the spot.