The killed robbers are Nasir, 28, Nazim, 31, Harun, 34, Alok Barua, 28, Ranajit Barua, 30, and Ilias, 30.

Police and witnesses said a band of about 15 armed men started their mission in Khashkhama, Bhingrole and Hetikhaine villages at around 1:00am.

The robbers broke into five houses and looted at gunpoint valuables worth about Tk 3 lakh including 20 tola gold ornaments and Tk 85,000.

The robbers also shot and stabbed Haresa Begum, wife of Joynal Abedin, in Khaskhama during the three-hour operation.

They robbed the houses of Kala Mia Chowdhury, Joynal, Sekander Ali of Khashkhama, Abdus Sattar of Bhingrole, and Ahmed Safa of Hetikhaine.

The witnesses said the gang after committing the robberies fled the villages in two groups.

One group disappeared with the looted goods, while the other group of about 10 robbers took a boat and reached Noyhat in Kashiaish union, Patiya through Chapakhali canal at around 4:00am.

The affected villagers chased the boat and surrounded the robbers with the help of the residents of Noyhat.

The agitated people held seven robbers, while the rest -- two of them were reportedly identified as Sanju and Babu -- managed to slip through the net.

The angry villagers beat up the robbers and killed five of them on the spot. Another robber died on way to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital at around 7:00am.

The injured robber, Mohammad Hossain, 22, is receiving treatment at Patiya Health Complex under police custody, sources said.

As many as 18 alleged criminals were lynched in the Chittagong metropolitan city and its adjoining upazilas in the last seven months.

Twenty 'criminals' were lynched last year including 10 in a single incident in Harual Chhari union in Fatikchhari on February 17.