Indigenous youth killed in Rangamati gunfight
An indigenous youth was killed today in a gunfight between security forces and an armed group in Sajek union of Baghaichhari upazila, Rangamati.
Police said the security forces have recovered a submachine gun (SMG), several bullets and two cell phones from the scene, a correspondent reports from Rangamati.
Police quoted the security men as saying it was the armed group of UPDF (United Peoples Democratic Front), a political organisation based in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). However, the UPDF denied the claim.
Lt Col Ali Haider Siddiqui, commander of Baghaihat zone of Bangladesh Army, said a 15-member regular team of army came across an armed group around 12:45pm at Agujjechhari along the Sajek-Baghaihat road on their way to the Tiger Tila camp from Masalong.
He added that the gunmen opened fire first, forcing the security forces to retaliate.
The armed group fled away as another troop of army led by Captain Ferdous Hasan Bhuiyan reached the spot. None of the army men were injured.
Later, the troops recovered the body of Ramesh Chakma alias Supreme and recovered 25 bullets, a loaded SMG, two cell phones and a bag containing documents of the UPDF’s organisational expenditure.
Lt Col Ali Haider Siddiqui also said there was evidence that at least two to three members of the armed group were injured in the fight.
Md Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sajek Police Station, said the army later handed the body over to police.
Ramesh hailed from Golkomachhara village in Sajek union.
However, Niran Chakma, chief of UPDF’s publicity department, said it did not have any link with the armed group that the army men fought with as they do not have any armed wing.
It was nothing but propaganda against the UPDF to ruin it democratic movement, alleges Niran.
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