Habiganj:  An accused in Habiganj 4-children murder case was killed in a reported gunfight with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members at Chunarghat upazila in Habiganj in the early hours of Thursday.

The deceased is Bacchu Mia, who was an auto-rickshaw driver.

The RAB 9 Srimangal camp company commander Kazi Moniruzzaman said Bacchu Mia was killed during a RAB drive at about 4:00am.

He said RAB conducted a drive after being tipped off that Bacchu was fleeing to India with his associates.

RAB officials held Bacchu near Indian border area at Deorganj in Chunarghat upazila of Habiganj and wanted to interrogate him. However, Bacchu opened fire on RAB members in an attempt to flee the country.

RAB officials fired back that left Bacchu Mia dead on the spot.

The company commander said two RAB members were also injured during the gunfight.

RAB officials also said another accused of the case, Shahed, was also detained from Bishwanath of Sylhet.

A total of seven people were held in connection with the killing of four children at Sundrateki village in Bahubal upazila.

Four schoolboys were found buried at the village on 17 February. They went missing from Sundrateki village in Bahubal upazila on 12 February.

On 17 February, police arrested Abdul Ali and his son Jewel Miah in connection with the gruesome murder. They were placed on 10-day police custody on the following day.

Police had also arrested Rubel, Arju, Bashir and Saleh Uddin in connection with the incident. Later, a court placed Arju on a seven-day police custody for interrogation while Bashir on a five-day remand in this connection.