The law enforcers have identified the deceased as Mozaffar Sana, who they said was the leader of extremist ‘Sana Group’ of Purba Bangla Communist Party.
District police’s Sub-Inspector (SI) Kamal Hossain said the ‘shootout’ took place on Friday morning at Charabattola in the Upazila’s Magura Union.
He said Sana was accused in total 18 cases, four of them filed on murder charges, in Satkhira and Naogaon.
SI Hossain said a patrol police team at Charabattola had signalled Sana and his two accomplices to stop after seeing the three riding a motorcycle, which has been banned by the government several days ago after the murder of a SP’s wife in Chittagong.
“But the trio started shooting and exploding bombs to flee. Sana was shot when police opened fire in retaliation while his two accomplices fled. We’re trying to catch them.”
Sana was declared dead by duty doctors at Tala Upazila Heath Complex upon arrival.
Hossain claimed two policemen were injured in the incident too, but did not give their names.
He said the motorcycle, a firearm with three bullets were recovered from the spot.
The SI said at least 35 people were arrested in the district after police’s nationwide crackdown on militants and terrorist started from Friday morning.