An alleged ‘gunfight’ between Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members and Purba Banglar Communist party killed the leader of the outlawed party early yesterday in Kushtia. The deceased was identified as Kuddus (42) alias Sagar. Sagar hailed from Rajbari district and was locally familiar as a sand businessman.

Police sources said that Sagar was the ring leader of this banned extremist party. Based on tip-off about a secret meeting of Purba Banglar Communist party was underway on the bank of Gorai River, a team of RAB-12 launched the drive to arrest criminals.

Smelling RAB presence, the party men opened fire that triggered the gunfight between RAB members and the banned party while the gunfight lasted for a couple of minutes.

Sagar received bullet injuries while his associates managed to escape the scene after the gun battle.

Later, Sagar was brought to Kushtia 250-bed Hospital where the doctors on duty declared him dead.