Five of the abducted people were released on ransom payment and the rest are yet to be traced.

The clashes centred establishment of supremacy in respective areas of PCJSS (Parbattya Chattagram Jono Sanghaty Samity) and UPDF (United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF).

Both are organisations of tribesmen. PCJSS signed the peace deal with the then Awami League government in 1997, ending decades of insurgency in the hills. UPDF, formed in December 1998, is opposing the deal and demanding full autonomy in the CHT.

Their rivalry is spreading in the entire hilly region with inaccessible forest areas bordering India and armed clashes between them are frequent now.

The deterioration in law and order drastically reduced flow of tourists in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari hill districts.

The February 2 abduction for ransom of a manager of a Bandarban hotel frequented by foreigners raised an alarm in the government, prompting steps to beef up security for foreigners.

Acting on an order from higher authorities, the Rangamati Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday held a meting with senior officials from all the 10 upazilas and issued directives to take steps "whatever necessary" to ensure security of foreigners.

On January 3, an armed indigenous gang abduct a businessman-- Bancharam Borua, 50 --- from Kotchukhali in Rangamati. He was released on payment of Tk 50,000 ransom.

Fide days latter, a pro-PCJSS gang attack a UPDF stronghold at Shapmara village, gunned down three people, abducted 10 others and torched four houses. Four of them were released later and the fate of the rest is still unknown.

On January 25, a shootout between supporters of UPDF and PCJSS left one person dead and three bullet-hit.

On Monday last, PCJSS activists abducted seven supporters of UPDF from a wedding party in Shabekhyong in Rangamati.

On January 3, police recovered the body of an indigenous young man, allegedly killed after abduction, from Shilchhori in Borkol upazila.