Identifying themselves as members of Mujahidin Alliance Council, an anti-PBCP underground outfit, about 50 masked criminals swooped on Babu at around 11:00am when he was gossiping at a crop field in Palashi village, witnesses said.

The gang slaughtered Babu, 30, son of Mohsin Ali of Naldanga in Natore, and fled the scene chanting slogans in favour of their organisation, they added.

Later, police recovered some PBCP posters and 11 bullets beside the victim's body.

Raiding three neighbouring villages, police held school-teacher Wahidul Islam, grocer Fazlu and an unidentified man and recovered three bombs, locals said.