Two suspected criminals were killed in “gunfights” with members of Rab in the capital early yesterday.

The dead are Maharaj Khalifa, 40, an alleged drug peddler in Banani, and Najmul Hasan alias Byanga Babu, 38, second-in-command of Shahadat Bahini, said Rab.

Of them, Khalifa died around 3:15am at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after he sustained a bullet injury at 1:15am in Satarkul area of Dhaka’s Badda, claimed Senior ASP Kamruzzaman of Rab-1.

A Rab team conducted a raid in the area on information that Khalifa and his cohorts gathered there for a drug dealing. As soon as the law enforcers reached the area, the criminals opened fire, forcing Rab members to retaliate, he claimed.

Khalifa was caught in the line of fire during the “gunfight”, he claimed, adding Rab members then rushed him to DMCH where doctors declared him dead.

According to the Rab official, Khalifa was accused in at least 29 drug related cases filed with different police stations.

Rab also claimed to have recovered two firearms and 3000 yaba pills from the spot.

A Rab member was also injured during the “gunfight”.

In a similar incident, Babu was killed in Mirpur’s Beribadh area around 3:15am, said Senior ASP Sajedul Islam of Rab-4.

Babu, who had fled to India few years ago, recently returned to Dhaka to take part in a killing mission, reported UNB quoting Major Kazi Saifuddin Ahmed, second-in-command of Rab-4.

He was accused in at least 20 cases, including eight over murders, said Rab.

Rab also claimed to have recovered a pistol, a magazine and bullets from the spot.

Both the bodies were sent to DMCH morgue for autopsies.

The Daily Star, however, could not independently verify any of the law enforcers’ claims.