They were identified as Tarikul Islam Shiplu, 35, and Zakir Hossain, 28.

All the five police stations in the city have been put on high alert in the wake of reports that a group of extremists have planned a series of killings.

Tarikul was a chargesheeted accused in Jubo League leaders Zahiruddin Panna and Anowar Hossain murder cases.

Zahiruddin was killed in a gun attack in 2003 at the car park of a local hotel and Anwar was gunned down in 1998 on the compound of local Awami League office.

Tariqul used to live in Nirala residential area under Khulna thana and zakir was a resident of Rupsha strand road of the same thana.

Deputy commissioner (DC) of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Akbar Ali said Bullet-riddled body of Tariqul was recovered from the bypass road in Khanjahan Ali thana while Zakir's body was recovered from Mujgunni area under Khalishpur thana. He was beaten to death, Akbar said.

Zakir was wanted in eight criminal cases including three for murders and three for dacoites. A new motorbike found beside his body was seized, the DC said.

The bodies of both were sent to Khulna Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Fathers of both the outlaws told this correspondent that police picked up their sons from roads Tuesday midnight and killed them in the small hours yesterday. "Police have adopted this new tactics instead of crossfire," said Tariqul's father Nazrul Islam.

Senior KMP officials did not admit that the outlaws were arrested. They were killed in factional feuds among them, said one official on condition of anonymity.

Two general diaries were filed with Khanjahan Ali thana and Khalishpur thana.