Khulna: A suspected leader of a robber gang was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Hongshu Rajerchar area of the Sundarbans in Koyra upazila in the early hours of Thursday.

The deceased is Hasan Ali Sana, 32, a resident of no.4 Koyra village of the upazila and second-in-command of robber gang, ‘Ranga Bahini’.

Being tipped off, police conducted a drive in Dabura area of Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district and arrested Sana on Wednesday night.

Later he was handed over to Koyra Police around 11.00pm.

Following confessional statement of Sana, a team of police launched a drive along with him to recover arms in the area of the Sundarbans around 2:00am.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, Sana’s cohorts fired gunshots in a bid to snatch him, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate, which triggered a gunfight, leaving Sana critically injured with bullets.

Later injured Sana was taken to Koyra Health Complex where duty doctors declared him dead.

Three policemen were also injured during the gunfight.

Koyra officer-in-charge Harendranath Sarkar confirmed the incident.

Sana was wanted by police in several robbery cases filed with different police stations, added the OC.

They also recovered three shutter guns and 10 rounds of cartridge from the spot.

The body was sent to Khulna Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy.