Meantime, another youth yesterday died from alleged torture by the Rab members at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital, reports our Sylhet correspondent.

Kawsar, 20, son of Nazibullah of Gutia village in Tongi, Gazipur, received bullets in his legs and abdomen in the Rab operation that also killed his father, brother Shamsul Haq, 25, and neighbour Delwar, 35.

The elite force claimed the three were killed and Kawsar and two others were bullet-hit in Rab action. But villagers who hold local robbers responsible for the incident said they called in the Rab an hour after the gruesome killings.

Rafiqul Islam, Kawsar's cousin, alleged the robbers are still threatening the villagers with more deaths. "Led by Sadu, they showed up several times and told us that they will kill four more," Rafiqul told The Daily Star yesterday.

Most of our men who left the village in fear still dare not return home due to the threats, said Mohammad Imran.

In Sylhet, the Rab nabbed Abdul Haque, 32, of Khoshir village in Beanibazar, and two others for their alleged involvement in heroin and liquor business Friday.

Sources said the Rab beat up and injured the arrestees and handed them over to police. Next day, they were admitted to hospital where Haque died yesterday.