A Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-7) officer was beaten to death and three others critically injured after a group of criminals attacked a Rab team in the Jungle Salimpur area under Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram this afternoon.

The deceased was identified as Deputy Assistant Director Abdul Motaleb, police confirmed.

The incident occurred near the local BNP office in No 1 Jungle Salimpur of Chhinnamul, according to police and Rab.

Rab-7 Media Officer, ASP ARM Mozaffar Hossain, said the team had gone to conduct an operation when they were attacked by local thugs.

“After being rescued, one succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, while the remaining three were admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH),” he added.

However, SI Nur Alam Ashek, in-charge of the CMCH police outpost, said no Rab members had been admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) until 8:30pm.

Rab sources later confirmed they were taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Chattogram.

Chattogram district Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Sirajul Islam told The Daily Star, “We have learned that a Rab team went to the local BNP office area in Jungle Salimpur. A group of criminals suddenly attacked the Rab members and abducted four of them. Among the four, one Rab member died at the hospital. We visited the spot and are investigating the incident.”

Rumours of Rab officials being gunned down spread across the area. Debunking the rumour, Chattogram Range DIG Ahsan Habib Palash said, "We don't know anything about shooting. As far as we know, the Rab team was beaten by local thugs."

A Facebook video showed people attacking two microbuses, with the vehicles attempting to flee the scene.