They were identified as Abu Jafar alias Jafar Chairman, chairman of Bagoan Union Parishad and an alleged cadre of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, former lawmaker and parliamentary affairs adviser to the former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and his accomplice Mojaher Alam.

Fifth Additional District and Session Judge Mirza Mohammad Ayub Ali pronounced the verdict yesterday afternoon.

According to the prosecution, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Jafar from Bagoan area on January 14.

According to Jafar's confessional statement, the elite force recovered a 9mm pistol, an air-gun and 16 round cartridges from the house of Mojaher and arrested him.

After hearing from nine witnesses, the court awarded the punishment yesterday.