A person has been killed and two others were injured in a gunfight between a terrorist group and a rescue team of Bangladesh Army in Belaichhari upazila of Rangamti district.
The deceased was identified as Meng Pong Mro, 42, a member of Village Defence Party (VDP). He was arrested in connection with the alleged abduction of travellers in Belaichhari upazila.
The army men had been conducting operation in Sepu Para of the district along with Meng Pong Mro to rescue the abducted travelers for the last two days.
Locals said members of Bangladesh Army recovered firearms, bullets and hand grenades from a terrorist den adjacent to Sepru Para and Pranjong Para in Belaichhari upazila on Thursday following a gunfight with criminals.
As a sequel to the arms recovery, the terrorist group swopped on a temporary camp of Bangladesh Army in Surahapara area around 12am on Sunday and opened fire, prompting them to retaliate that triggered a gunfight.
At one stage, Meng Pong Mro was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while two others -Ansar member M Hannan and Army member Abul Kashem -- suffered bullet injuries, said police super of Rangamati Sayeed Tarikul Hasan.
The injured were taken to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Chittagong.
Members of Bangladesh Army men recovered a Mark-2 rifle, seven rifle magazines, 222 bullets, several grenades, a walkie-talkie, two knives and some papers from the terrorist den adjacent to Sepru Para and Pranjong Para in Belaichhari upazila on Thursday.
The army personnel conducted the drive in the area to rescue two travelers – Abdullah Al Zubair Anik and Zakir Hossain Munna – who were reportedly abducted by some miscreants on October 3 along with local guide Mang Sai Mro.
They also recovered an identity card of Zubair from the spot.
The two tourists reached Bandarban on September 28 and entered through Ruma Bazar route to explore impassable Raikhang falls (Pukurpara) which is under Belaichhari upazila.
They along with their guide were reportedly abducted by miscreants in the middle of their mission from Sepupara in Belaichhari upazila of Rangamati district on October 3.
On the same day, another guide Mangsai Mro went missing from Ananda para in Ruma.
Five people, including the VDP man, were arrested in connection with the incident.
