They are Anisur Rahman, 28, a regional leader of Jasad Gono Bahini (JGB), Azizur Rahman, 32, a top cadre of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML), and Bachchu Khan, 26, of Keraniganj.

Our Kushtia correspondent reported that a team of Mirpur police arrested Anis at village Amanatpur in Sadar upazila of the district Thursday morning.

Police said Anis, an accused in seven murder cases, had long been absconding and recently came back to his village.

Following his statement, Mirpur police took Anis to Katdah village on Thursday night to recover illegal firearms.

When police reached the village at about 3:30am, the JGB cadres opened fire on them.

The law enforcers retaliated. Police said Anis was shot during the shootout and died instantly.

Police retrieved two bombs and four bullets from the spot and sent the body to Kushtia General Hospital for an autopsy.

In Meherpur, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-6) arrested PBCP cadre Aziz at Bamundi village under Ganni upazila on Wednesday night.

During interrogation, Aziz confessed to his involvement with the underground outfit and also admitted to have firearms hidden at a graveyard of the village.

The Rab men along with Aziz went to the village to recover the firearms. When they reached Eidgahpara graveyard at about 2:30am, the PBCP men fired on them. The Rab men retaliated.

Rab said Aziz was caught in the crossfire and died on the spot.

They said Aziz was an accused in several cases, including four for murder, filed with Gangni and Mujibnagar police stations.

Rab sent his dead body to Meherpur General Hospital for an autopsy.

UNB adds: Crimial Bachchu Khan, 28, son of Quader Khan of Samki village under Dohar Police Station, was killed in a 'shootout' between Rab and his cohorts at Dharmashur early yesterday.

Rab-2 sources said they arrested Bachchu at Islampur under Dohar Police Station at 10:00am on Thursday.

During the interrogation, Bachchu told the Rab members that he was planning to commit a robbery at Dharmashur in Keraniganj on Friday night.

When the Rab men took him to Dharmashur at about 3:00am, Bachchu's accomplices opened fire on them, forcing the elite force to retaliate.

Rab sources said Bachchu was caught in the shootout and died on the spot. One sawed off rifle, one shooter gun and six bullets were recovered from the spot.

Dohar police said Bachchu was wanted in five criminal cases.