Our correspondent from Manikganj reports: Hridoy alias Chakma Hridoy, 25, a close associate of Taj, second-in-command of top criminal Kala Jahangir, died in a shootout between his accomplices and members of Rab-4 in Manikganj early yesterday.

Earlier, a special team of Rab arrested him at Kafrul in the capital on Friday.

During interrogation, Hridoy confessed to having firearms hidden at the Western Housing Project at Dholla village in Singair upazila in the district. Following his statement, a team of Rab-4 took him to the village to retrieve the firearms.

As they reached the village around 5:00am, Hridoy's accomplices opened fire on them. Rab members fired in return which resulted in a gunfight. Hridoy died on the spot when he was caught in the shootout, Rab sources said.

Rab members retrieved a one-shooter gun, two rounds of rifle bullets, two gun cartridges and 25 bottles of Phensidyl syrup from the spot.

Hridoy was accused in six cases including five for murder.

Our Kushtia correspondent adds: A top cadre of Janajuddho faction of the outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML) was killed in "crossfire" during a shootout between his accomplices and members of Rab at village Toipur in Chuadanga Sadar upazila early yesterday.

According to a press release of Rab-6, they arrested Meraj Uddin, 30, a top cadre of the outfit, from a hideout at Toipur on Thursday morning.

During interrogation at Rab office in Chuadanga, the outlaw confessed to having firearms hidden in different areas of Toipur village.

Later a Rab team took him to the village to retrieve the firearms. As they reached the village around 3:30am, the PBCP cadres opened fire on them. Rab retaliated resulting in a half an hour-long gunfight. Meraj, caught in the crossfire, died on the spot when he tried to escape.

Rab retrieved a shotgun and five bullets from the scene of the shooting.

According to police, Meraj was accused in three murder cases.