UPDF faction chief among 5 shot dead in Rangamati
Victims come under attack on their way to attend funeral of Naniarchar upazila chairman Shaktimaan Chakma who was killed on Thursday
ANOWAR HOSSAIN, Rangamati
Five people, including a UPDF faction chief, were killed and six injured yesterday as assailants opened fire on a microbus carrying them at Betchhari in Naniarchar on their way to attend the funeral of upazila chairman Shaktiman Chakma killed on Thursday. The deceased were identified as UPDF (Ganatantrik) chief Tapan Jyoti Chakma, Sujon Chakma, Konok Chakma, Setu Lal Chakma and microbus driver Abdur Rahim Sajib.
The injured persons were taken to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital. It is believed that the fresh killings are the result of rivalry between two groups. There is fresh tension in the south-eastern hills, with fears of more causalities in renewed clashes between the rival groups.
Unknown persons opened fire on a microbus, carrying leaders and members of a faction of a regional group. They were on the way to the funeral of Naniarchar upazila chairman, Shaktimaan Chakma, in Rangamati, the police and locals said.
Three were killed on the spot and two in the hospital, they said The incident took place at Betchari, in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati, at about 1:30pm yesterday (Friday), a day after the killing of Shaktiman Chakma, also vice-president of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (MN Larma).
Locals said Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (MN Larma) people earlier abducted three leaders of the Democratic UPDF womens wing and released them after a month. In retaliation, the Ganatantrik UPDF people killed Shaktiman Chakma and yesterdays killings were revenge killings. The victims were going to the funeral of Shaktiman Chakma and planned to carry out out fresh attacks there.
Locals said when UPDF activists crossed the Betchari point, they came under gun attack. The attackers managed to flee from the spot. The Army and police, with the help of locals, recovered the bodies and resued the injured persons from the spot. The bodies and the injured persons were sent to Khagrachari Sadar Hospital.
Mikle Chakma, organiser of the UPDF (Prashit)) Group, denied their involvement in the killing of Shaktiman Chakma.
The victims are members of a faction of the United Peoples Democratic Front, Rangamati Superintendent of Police, Md Alamgir Kabir, said.
One of the victims is Tapan Jyoti Chakma, alias Barma, he is president the UPDF Democratic Front. Another victim is their driver and the rest are activists of his group, he said.
They were ambushed while coming to the funeral. Three of them died on the spot and two in the hospital. Four to five people were also injured. They were all travelling in a Hiace microbus, he added.
The situation is tense but under control in the district.
Additional law enforcers, including police and the BGB, have been deployed and vigilance has been strengthened in the troubled areas.
All the victims hailed from different upazilas of Khagrachari. JSS (MN) held the UPDF (Prashit) responsible for the killings.
Meanwhile, Nirun Kumar Chakma, one of the injured persons, said they were travelling to funeral of Shaktiman Chakma and group of terrorists opened fire to them soon after they reached Betchari.
He further said the miscreants shot first to the driver who lost his control over the microbus. Then the miscreants started firing to us indiscriminately, added Nirun.
