The overnight attack comes after five outlaws have been killed in the northwest since April 1 in vigilante attacks blamed on the Islamic militant outfit.

Shortly before midnight, a gang of 50 with alleged ties to the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) hemmed in the house of Abdur Rashid in Shariagram village in the northwestern district, where 15 militants of the Islamist outfit were staying.

Witnesses said the gang attacked the JMJB men with hockey sticks and sharp weapons and blasted crackers before setting fire to the house.

The PBCP cadres slaughtered homeowner Rashid, 36, son of Abdul Jabbar, and Nazrul Fakir, 36, son of Nazim Uddin.

The gang later looted the houses of Shamsher and Chayan in the same village before setting them on fire.

Deputy Commissioner Golam Mortuza and the superintendent of police of Naogaon visited the scene yesterday morning.

The bodies were sent to Naogaon Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Nurnabi, 36, Momtaz, 55, Abdul Matin, 27, Majid, 37, Jewel, 27, and Litu, 30, were injured in the attack.

Our Staff Correspondent Anwar Ali reports from Rajshahi that senior police officials claimed that Bangla Bhai, dreaded operations commander of the JMJB, was no longer in Rajshahi

But police officers working in the troubled areas said Bangla Bhai has been staying alternately at camps in Bagmara in Rajshahi and Naldanga in Natore.