Five persons have been killed in a “gunfight” with the members of Bangladesh Army in Rangamati’s Baghachharhi upazila.
The army members claimed that the deceased were members of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (MN Larma faction), while the JSS denied the claim.
One of the deceased was identified as Rupayon Chakma, 30.
Officer-in-Charge Zakir Hossain Fakir of Baghaichhari police station said: “Tipped off that the gang was taking preparation to commit crime, a team of army led by Baghaihat zone captain Lieutenant Colonel Ali Haider Siddique went to Dokhaiapara around 2:30 am yesterday.
“Sensing presence of the army team, the criminals opened fire on them, prompting the army personnel to fire back, triggering a gunfight. Five members of the gang were killed in the two hours long gunfight that ended around 4:30 am.”
Army trooper Liakat Ali was also injured in the clash, said the OC. “He has been admitted to Combined Military Hospital in Chittagong.”
Army arrested three members of the gang while their other associates managed to flee.
Seven firearms, including one machine gun, one SMG, two rifles, three SLRs, and 500 rounds of bullets were recovered from the spot, reports our Khagrachhari correspondent.
When contacted, Kakoli Khisha, secretary of information and publicity of the breakaway JSS faction, said he did not know any information about the incident.
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Haider Siddique told the Dhaka Tribune: “The terrorists had taken shelter at the house of a man named Joyti Chakma in the area. They hold the residents of that house hostage while firing. They were preparing for conducting a massive operation in the area with the firearms and explosives.”
In a statement to the media, United People’s Democratic Front Rangamati unit Coordinator Shochol Chakma said: “Some television reports have mentioned the name of UPDF while telecasting reports on the gunfight between Army personnel and terrorists on Sunday. This was done to tarnish the image of UPDF.”
