The slain, Sharifuzzaman Sumon alias Sohel, 30, was the second-in-command of Janajuddho faction of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP). A member of Rab was also injured in the shootout that took place during an arms recovery drive in Naihati Kalibari area.

According to a Rab press release, one revolver, two large daggers, nine bullets and two used cartridges were recovered from the scene of the shooting that continued for about 30 minutes.

Earlier on Thursday evening, a team of Rab arrested Sumon, son of Moulana Abdul Wahab of Naihati village, in the capital's Mohammadpur area.

His elder brother Shoaib alias Ripon, who was the operations commander of Janajuddho, was also killed in an encounter with the law enforcers on September 6 in Rupsha upazila.

Sumon stood accused in six murder cases including the ones for killing Balu and Awami League leader Farhad Hossain. He was accused in at least 30 other cases filed with different police stations across the Khulna division for extortion, robbery and roles in bombing incidents, said police sources.

Sumon joined the outlawed party in 2003 following a split in the PBCP Marxist-Leninist faction.

He along with nine of his armed cadres attempted to snatch Abdur Rashid Malitha alias Dada Tapan, the founder of Janajuddho faction, from the custody of police at Khulna Judges' Court on January 26, 2002.

He had long been on the run from police and even in hiding, he used to maintain a stranglehold on parts of the Sundarbans. He had recently dissociated himself from Janajuddho and set up a party named Gono Fouz.