Kushtia: A suspected regional leader of outlawed party ‘Lal Pataka’ was killed in a reported gunfight with the members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Kumarkhali upazila early on Thursday.

The deceased is Abdul Kuddus, a regional commander of ‘Lal Pataka’, a faction of outlawed ‘Purba Banglar Communist Party’, hailing from Rajbari, said Abdul Khaleq, officer-in-charge of Kumarkhali Police Station.

Tipped off that a group of outlawed party members gathered in Garai River Char for carrying out sabotage in the area, a team of RAB-12 conducted a drive in the area around 5:00am.

Sensing the presence of the elite force, the outlawed men opened fire to law enforcers, prompting them to fire back that triggered a gunfight.

Abdul Kuddus caught in the line of fire and sustained bullet injuries during the gunfight.

Later, he was taken to local hospital where the doctors declared him dead, police said.

Two RAB men including Constable Rashiduzzaman and Assistant Sub-inspector Tahurul were injured in the gunfight.