They also asked the administration and the media to support it in eliminating outlaws.

The demonstration was held after a half-day hartal called by the main opposition, Awami League (AL), and the 11-party demanding arrest of Bangla Bhai, the operations commander of JMJB blamed for killing at least eight outlaws in the northwest since April 1 and spreading panic.

JMJB men on hundreds of motorbikes, three microbuses, 60 buses and half a dozen trucks powered into the city at 3:00pm in deviation of their earlier announcement that the rally would be held in the morning.

The killer group came down heavily on journalists in two meetings at Shaheb Bazar Zero point and Gourhanga Rail Crossing and handed over memoranda to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aziz Hasan, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Noor Muhammad, Superintendent of Police (SP) Masud Mia of Rajshahi.

The memoranda protested 'fabricated reports by a section of the media and several political parties'. The JMJB leaders threatened to kill journalists for 'misreporting'.

"We are pledge-bound to eliminate outlaws. We will stay as long as the outlaws are here. But reporters are falsely accusing us of killing, torture and oppression. They (journalists) do not know that their pen might stop someday," said Professor Lutfar Rahman, a JMJB spokesman leading the huge mob.

The JMJB termed its activities 'a great initiative to eliminate outlaws and terrorism' and demanded immediate arrest of those who were 'spreading false and motivated reports on the JMJB leaders'.

The memorandum addressed to State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar said the JMJB brought back peace to the outlaw infested areas, but a section of the press and some political parties are misleading the nation.

"Curbing terrorism is not the work of the government alone. The brave people of Bagmara united against the terrorists and are helping the law enforcers eliminate the outlaws as none of ruling or opposition parties are able to resist the organised outlaws," it said.

The home ministry had ordered police to arrest Bangla Bhai only last week in the wake of his lawlessness and killing spree. Bangla Bhai and his self-styled spiritual leader Abdur Rahman were not present during the showdown.

The first rally of the JMJB was addressed by the chairman of Pakuria union parishad and Bagmara BNP Joint Secretary Besharat Ullah, among others. They offered afternoon prayers at the Eidgah Maidan and held the other rally at Gourhanga Rail crossing in the evening before they left for Naogaon.

Earlier, they laid siege to the deputy commissioner's office for half an hour since 3.30pm and chanted slogans: "There is no Bangla Bhai, we all are Bangla Bhai. Catch and slaughter sarboharas".

On the support of several lawmakers to the JMJB, the memorandum said the lawmakers' names were published to harm their popularity.

"All political leaders including ministers and lawmakers irrespective of parties are supporting us," it said.

Receiving the memo, the Rajshahi DC and DIG told the team that they would send it to the higher authorities.

The SP welcomed the team and said, "We (police) hail you (JMJB) as you are helping us eliminate the Sarbaharas (outlaws) from Rajshahi. We must cooperate with you in the coming days so that people can rest without fear."

Talking to newspersons, the SP termed the JMJB men 'common people who took up sticks to save themselves'.

Prof Lutfar Rahman told newspersons that they had no political ambition.