5 killed in 'gunfight' with army men in Rangamati

Five people were killed in an alleged gunfight with members of the Bangladesh Army in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati early today.

The army claimed the deceased to be of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (MN Larma faction), reports our Khagrachhari correspondent.

Five were killed and three others were taken captive after the gunfight, said Lt Col Haider, commanding officer of Baghaihat army zone in Khagrachhari.

Police identified two of the deceased as Rupayan Chakma and Babul Chakma. Further details could not be known till filing the report around 6:30pm.

However, it was confirmed that they were all members of the JSS group that broke away from Santu Larma and reformed separately.

The army crackdown on the “terrorist-ruled area” at Boradam of the upazila was conducted on the basis of a tip-off. Lt Col Haider headed the raid.

On the basis of secret information, the army men cordoned Boradam area last midnight, Haider said.

Sensing danger, the criminals opened gunshots on the army men compelling them to fire back, he added.

Meanwhile, Liwakat Ali, an army soldier, sustained injuries during the one-hour-long gunfight, the army official added.

The official also said eight firearms including three self-loading rifles (SLR), two Chinese rifles, a LMG, SMG and a foreign pistol and more than five hundreds of bullets were seized from the spot.

When contacted, Kakoli Khisha, secretary of information and publicity of the breakaway JSS faction, said she did not know any information about the incident.

On other hand, United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), another regional political party of CHT in a press statement has declined their involvement in the incident.

Police sent the bodies to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital for autopsy. 

Acting police superintendent (Rangamati) Nazmul Hasan said the seized arms and ammunitions have been handed over to Baghaichhari Police Station and process is underway to lodge a case in this connection.