Acting on a tip, a Rab-7 team raided Master Hat of North Shikalbaha area Friday afternoon and arrested Mohammed Yusuf also known as Hathkata Yusuf, 48, our Chittagong University correspondent reports.

During interrogation at Rab headquarters at Patenga, Yusuf confessed to extortions and robberies with the help of his cohorts.

Following his information, Rab carried out another drive to capture his accomplices at their hideout on the Karnaphuli at Char Bakalia.

As the team reached the area around 1:45am yesterday, Yusuf's gang members ambushed the team who also retaliated in their defence.

During the gunfight, Yusuf was bullet hit when he tried to escape Rab custody. Rab personnel rushed him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where on-duty doctors declared him dead.

The elite force also recovered three single-barrel guns and eight live shells from the spot. His accomplices however managed to escape arrest. Yusuf was accused in 11 criminal cases, Rab sources said.

Meanwhile, an outlaw of PBCP ML faction was killed in 'encounter' between his accomplices and the police early yesterday at Ram Majhi of Terokheda upazila in Khulna, our Khulna correspondent reports.

The dead Mithu Mollah, 40, was arrested at Harhikhali of the same upazila on Friday noon.

Following his confessional statement during police interrogation, a police team along with him headed for the spot to retrieve hidden arms and arrest his cohorts.

As they reached the village Ram Majhi, Mithu's gang opened fire on the team. The police team returned fire leading to a 20-minute gunfight between the two parties. During the battle, Mithu tried to escape but he was caught in the line of fire. He died on the spot.

Police recovered one double-barrel gun, three live shells and two rifle bullets from the spot.

Inspector Ahsan of district SB said the slain outlaw was wanted in connection with five criminal cases including one murder case filed with Terokheda Police Station.

District SB sources said Mithu surrendered to police with two firearms in 1999 taking advantage of the amnesty declared by the Awami League government.