The criminal, Panu Howladar alias Kanu alias Russell, 24, was a close accomplice of Kala Jahangir, one of the 23 top criminals in the city, and notorious criminal Taj, a Rab press release said.

Rab-4 nabbed Panu, accused in 13 cases filed with Kafrul Police Station for murder, extortion and rape, and his accomplice Shah Alam from Kamarpara under Turag Police Station at about 2:00am on July 27. They were handed over to Kafrul police the following day and Rab-4 took charge of quizzing them in an arms case.

Panu told Rab that his accomplices Tuhin, Razzak, Haji Shah Alam have huge arms in their possession. They have a hideout near Biswa Ijtema ground where they take liquor, marijuana and phensidyl and plan criminal activities.

Acting on his statement, a Rab team rushed to raid the hideout at about 3:00am yesterday but Panu's accomplices attacked the team near the spot and Rab then opened fire in self defence, the press release said.

Panu tried to flee during the firing and was bullet-hit in his accomplices' firing. The gang members then retreated and Rab recovered a revolver, a shutter gun and three bullets left by them, it added.

The body was sent to Gazipur Sadar Hospital.