Seven killed in the hills
Seven people, including three leaders of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), were killed and six injured in two gun attacks in Khagrachhari town yesterday.
With these, 33 people have been killed in violence involving political parties in Rangamati and Khagrachhari this year.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Around 8:30am yesterday, two groups of gunmen went to UPDF-dominated Swanirvar Market area of Khagrachhari town on three-wheelers and opened fire.
They killed six, including three bystanders, just 50 yards from Swanirvar police outpost.
When supporters of UPDF brought out a protest procession around 12:30pm in Perachhari area about 2km away, the second attack left another dead.
The UPDF, demanding exemplary punishment of the killers, alleged that it was a joint attack by activists of PCJSS (MN Larma) and UPDF (democratic) faction.
PCJSS (MN Larma) in a statement claimed that they were not involved, rather the incident was a result of UPDF's internal conflict.
Parimal Chakma, of Narangkhiya village, told The Daily Star that he saw two groups in black and olive-green attire storm Swanirvar market area and start shooting.
“I was talking to some people in front of a tea stall. Hearing gunshots, we ran inside the stall,” he said.
“They were all carrying guns. They shot Tapan Chakma [acting president of UPDF-backed Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) Khagrachhari] and Elton Chakma [joint secretary of PCP Khagrachhari] in front of the UPDF office there. Both died on the spot.”
UPDF activists were gathering in front of their office as they had a programme scheduled yesterday morning to accord a reception to its leaders who allegedly had been freed after being abducted. Only a few activists of PCP were there, he said.
Another witness wishing anonymity said the masked gunmen attacked from two ends and stayed in the area for around 45 minutes.
Apart from Tapan and Elton, Palash Chakma, vice-president of Democratic Youth Forum, youth wing of the UPDF; and bystanders Jitayan Chakma, a health worker of Khagrachhari Upazila Health Complex; Dhiraj Chakma, a textile engineer who arrived from Dhaka to go to his village home on Eid holidays; and Rupam Chakma, an Open University student, were killed.
Four of the victims died on the spot and two on their way to hospital.
Injured Somor Bikash Chakma, Sukiron Chakma, and Sohel Chakma were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for better treatment from Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.
In the afternoon, Sono Kumar Chakma, Urmi Chakma, Minu Chakma, and Sona Ranjan Chakma were injured when the procession was attacked in Perachhari.
Sono, a farmer by profession, died at 3:00pm in Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital. He was not shot but it could not be known how he had been injured.
Swanirvar market area was almost deserted after the attack as panicked locals closed shops and most of them chose to stay indoors despite police and Border Guard Bangladesh beefing up security.
VICTIMS AT CMCH
Padma Kumar Chakma, father of injured Sukiron, told The Daily Star that he first heard gunshots from Swanirvar Market area. “Suddenly, we saw a group of seven to eight gunmen. One of them pointed a gun at me but did not shoot. They shot my son in the chest.”
Sukiron, a farmer, told this paper at CMCH that he was not involved in politics and that he was a victim of political conflict.
Somor Bikash Chakma, regional director of Golden Environment Development Foundation, who was having tea at a stall in the market, said, “A man aged around 35 started shooting. We ran for our lives and took cover beside a school's wall.”
“When the man showed up there and asked who I was, I pleaded that I had done nothing and that I was innocent. No sooner had he heard the word 'innocent', he shot me twice in the left leg with his rifle.”
Somor said he managed to hire an auto-rickshaw to get to the hospital.
Abdul Awal, assistant superintendent of Khagrachhari police, claimed that it was a result of a turf war between UPDF men and other goons.
MM Salauddin, additional superintendent of Khagrachhari police, said the probe was on and that they had beefed up security measures in the town.
The district administration has formed a five-member probe committee led by an additional magistrate and asked it to submit a report within seven working days.
On May 4, just a day after the killing of Shaktiman Chakma, chairman of Naniarchar Upazila Parishad in Rangamati, five people were shot dead in Khagrachhari.
Our Khagrachhari correspondent and staff reporter at Chittagong bureau office contributed to the report.
Comments