A suspect in the Rangamati seven-murder was killed in a "gunfight" with members of joint forces in Naikhongchhari upazila yesterday.

The deceased, Ghano Shankor Chakma, of Rangamati Sadar upazila, was a regional political party member, said Lt Col Miftah Uddin Ahmed, commanding officer of Rab-7.

He stood accused in the murder case, the Rab official said.

On the other hand, MA Manzur, officer-in-charge of Rangamati's Baghaichhari Police Station, said a case was filed against 40-50 unnamed assailants. Shankor's name was not mentioned in the case. But police were keeping watch on him, the OC said.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of army and Rab raided remote Dochhari area in Naikhongchhari around 10:00am. Shankor was shot dead during the "gunfight" and nine to 10 others managed to flee, said the Rab official.

The team came to know about his identity from his national ID card, which was found in his pocket, he added.

In a press release, Rab said the joint forces recovered seven submachine guns, 437 bullets and Tk 4.36 lakh from the spot.

This correspondent could not contact the deceased's family for comments.

On March 18, seven people, including two polling officials and four Ansar personnel, were shot dead in Baghaichhari upazila. They, along with others, were returning to the upazila town with polling materials in two cars after discharging their duties at a polling centre in the second phase of upazila polls.