The dead was identified as Rezaul Karim Faku, 26.

Faku's two associates --Liton, 25, and Nasir, 23, -- managed to flee and Mansur, 22, was arrested.

Three firearms, including two guns, one cut-riffle and 15 ammunition were recovered from their possessions.

Md. Shamim , an assistant sub-inspector of Gournadi Police Station, said Faku, a resident of Bankura-Chandrahar village of Batajore union of Gournadi, was accused in several murder, rape and extortion cases, including murder of Jubo Dal and Sarbahara cadre Khokan.

The local people said Faku was a notorious criminal and they were under constant threat of Faku's atrocities. They brought out a procession hailing the Rab's anti-crime operation and killing of Faku.

Rab and police sources said Rab started anti-Sarbahara operation in the Sarbahara-prone Uzirpur-Gournadi-Babuganj upazilas on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, Rab cordoned of a group of outlawed Sarbahara at Datteshwar village under Sholak union of Uzirpur upazila.

Faku was killed when the outlaws tried to break the Rab cordon firing on them. Faku died on the spot.