Sources said Abu Zafar, chairman of Bagowan Union Parishad, is known as a notorious cadre loyal to Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury faction of BNP. Currently he also holds the post of vice president of the party.

They said Zafar is accused in at least 14 criminal cases, including murder, rape and abduction. Some weeks after the general elections of 2001, he allegedly raped four women of religious minority at Jelepara of Koyepara village and a case in this regard is yet to be disposed off.

Tipped off, a team of the elite force raided Tulatoli area of Goschi village at around 1:15pm yesterday and caught Zafar with a 9MM pistol, 16 bullets and 16 cartridges. He was then brought to the Rab headquarters in city's Patenga and after a brief interrogation, the Rab team again set out taking Zafar with them in search of more firearms.

Sources said Zafar was an Awami League cadre until the 2001 parliamentary election.