The dead were identified as Mahbubul Haq, 25, Rezaul Karim Ilu, 32 and Saidul Islam, 42 of Philipnagar of the upazila. The first two were the nephews of the leader of the gang, Lalchad.

Acting on a tip off, a team of Rab-5 of Rajshahi raided the Philipnagar bazar and surrounded the Philipnagar High School area, some 45 kilometres off the district headquarters, at about 5:30pm on Monday, where some members of the gang were holding a meeting, said a Rab statement.

When the Rab asked the gangsters to surrender, they opened fire on the law enforcers sparking off a half-an hour long gunfight.

The Rab found the body of Mahbub on the spot after the criminals fled the scene. A foreign revolver and three bullets were also recovered.

The body was handed over to Daulatpur police.

Mahbub was accused in five murder cases, police said.

On information that the criminals of the same gang are holding another meeting, a team of Rab-12 of Kushtia unit raided the same village at about 4:30am yesterday and encircled an open field of Abederghat near the bank of Padma.

Ignoring the Rab's call to surrender, the gangsters opened fire on the Rab team triggering a one and a half hours long fierce gunfight.

The bodies of Rezaul and Saidul were discovered at the spot after the gunfight ended.

Both were accused in several cases including murder, police said.

Rab recovered one lightgun, one pistol and 44 bullets from the scene.

Locals and relatives of the dead, however, differed with Rab's account of the incidents.

Rezaul and Saidul were arrested hours before the 'crossfire' and no other criminals were seen fleeing after the 'gunfight,' they claimed.

Linked with a local lawmaker of ruling BNP, Lalchad is accused in at least 20 murder cases.