Delwar Hossain, 30, was murdered by gangsters of notorious Selim Member of Amanatganj area in the city in the early hours yesterday. In retaliation for the murder the angry mob chased and caught Kala Babul, 26, and his accomplice Liton, 27. They dragged the two to the house of the slain activist and beat them mercilessly. They died on the spot.

Police and local sources said, Kala Babul and his accomplices called Delwar and his friend Sayem from Delwar's house at Char Abdani-Beltala area on the northern part of the city at about 10:15pm on Friday night. They chopped Delwar who was found critically injured afterwards near Char Abdani culvert.

Sayem, however, narrowly escaped the attack and informed the family members and local people of the incident. They recovered Delwar in critical condition and took him to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital where he died at about 12:30am.

Before death, Delwar named his attackers as Selim Molla, a Union Parishad (UP) member, Nadu, Kala Babul, Liton and their accomplices to police and his relatives. Kotwali police and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) raided different parts of the city to nab the killers.

Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said there were more than a dozen cases against Kala Babul and Liton.

Special forces were deployed in the area to control the situation.

Delwar's brother filed a murder case. Police made a general diary entry regarding the lynching of the two.