Immediately after the incident, a police sub-inspector (SI) with the help of locals captured two of the criminals--Sumon, 32, and Amin, 25. They also recovered two revolvers loaded with seven bullets from them. Two other criminals of the gang managed to flee.

The injured were identified as Mohammad Polash, 25, and Yaqub Mir, 38, both staffs of Paltan Palace hotel, and Kawsar Bhuiyan, 28, a visitor.

Four armed youths opened fire at the reception counter on the first floor of six-storied hotel around 4:00pm. They fired six to seven shots during the sudden attack when Kawsar was hit, one of the victims told The Daily Star.

Two staffs at the reception caught hold of two of the shooters soon after they opened fire prompting the other two criminals to fire at them. Polash was injured during this scuffle.

Yaqub was bullet-hit when he got in the way of the criminals' escape route on the ground floor of the hotel.

Police in a press release yesterday evening said SI Abu Sadek of Paltan Police Station captured Amin while he was running away holding his firearm in the air. He later captured Sumon with the help of locals at the Nightingale intersection.

"The four attackers reached the reception and suddenly started firing indiscriminately. As I ran for cover a bullet hit me in my abdomen," said Kawsar, who had gone there to visit his brother Nazimuddin, a hotel staff.

Police suspect the attack might be the result of non-payment of toll demanded by the criminals.