The dead were identified as Abdur Razzak, 30, of Shanghat village under Gangni upazila and Ismail Hossain, 25, of Mahishkhola village of the same upazila.

According to a Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) press release, a joint strike force of Rab 11 and Gangni police raided a mango orchard at Mahishkhola at around 4:00am after receiving a tip-off about a secret meeting of Lal Pataka outlaws.

The outlaws ignored the call to surrender and opened fire on the joint force. The law enforcement personnel returned fire triggering an hour-long shootout.

The law enforcement agencies found the two victims' body inside the orchard after the shootout was over while rest of the assailants managed to flee the scene, claimed Rab.

Police recovered a pistol and 10 bullets from the spot.

According to police, Razzak was accused in different cases including two for murder while Islmail was in four including one for murder.