An outlawed party leader was killed in a “gunfight” with police in Pabna Sadar upazila early yesterday.

Abul Hossain alias Abu Nakshal, 55, of Purba Raghabpur village in the upazila, was the district commander of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML) Lal Pataka faction, police said.

Goutam Kumar Biswas, additional superintendent of Pabna police, said acting on a tip-off, police arrested Abul from his village on Sunday afternoon. During interrogation, Abu informed police about their arms den, he said.

As per his statement, a police team took him to Dhopaghata area for recovering firearms and explosives around 3:00am yesterday.

When the team reached near the Dhopaghata bridge, Abul's associates opened fire. Police returned fire, triggering the “gunfight”, the police official said.

At one stage, Abul attempted to flee and was hit by bullets. The others managed to escape, the additional SP said, adding that Abul was taken to Pabna General Hospital where he died later.

Police claimed to have recovered a firearm and four bullets from the spot.

Abul stood accused in nine criminal cases, including murder, police said.

Four policemen were hurt during the “gunfight”, police claimed.

They took first aid at Pabna General Hospital.