Extremist Naxal leader Md Abul Hossain aka Abu Naxal has been killed in an alleged gunfight with police in Pabna.
The 55-year-old was killed in the Dhopaghata area around 3am on Monday.
According to the case file, Abu Naxal had been terrorizing the inhabitants of the area with his cohorts for a long time, committing various crimes including extortion and contract killing. He has nine cases against him.
Pabna Superintendent of Police Sheikh Rafiqul Islam said: “We arrested Abu Naxal on account of three outstanding warrants on Sunday. Upon interrogation, he said his group, the Red Flag Naxals, had a large weapons stash in the area.
“He led us to the Dhopaghata Boro Bridge area, where his fellow extremist ambushed our party. They began firing at us, and we fired back in self defense. During the gunfight, Abu Naxal managed to run away into the darkness,” he added.
“After a prolonged firefight, the miscreants escaped. However, upon searching the area, we found that Abu Naxal had been shot, and was in critical condition. We rushed him to Pabna General Hospital, where the attending doctor declared him dead around 4:45am,” said Rafiqul.
Police recovered a revolver, 10 bullets, and four shell casings from the area.
Four policemen were injured during the gunfight, and were admitted to Pabna General Hospital.
Police said they were on the hunt for the escaped miscreants.