Top outlawed leader Abdus Samad Tikka was killed in a 'crossfire' between his accomplices and police at village Dahkula in Sadar upazila in the district early yesterday.

With the incident, 'crossfire' death by Rapid Action Battalion and police since June last year rose to 241.

Tikka, 38, a leader of outlawed Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF) was accused in 40 cases including 18 of murder, police said.

Lalpur police of Natore district at first arrested Tikka from a tea stall at Gopalpur Bazar on Monday last. He was sent to Natore jail under section 54 of CrPC.

On information, a team of Kushtia Detective Branch police rushed to Natore and identified the arrestee as Tikka, the outlawed leader.

Kushtia police arrested him from Natore jail gate when he came out of jail on bail Saturday.

During interrogation in Kushtia, Tikka admitted his involvement with the underground party and confessed to possessing a large number of firearms hidden in different places of the region including his village Dahkula in Sadar upazila.

Accompanying Tikka, police started for village Dahkula to seize firearms as per his confession.

As the police reached Borozpara area of the village, the GMF cadres opened fire, triggering an hour-long shootout with police.

Meantime, Tikka, trying to flee from police van, got caught in the 'line of fire' and died on the spot, police said, adding that his accomplices managed to flee.