Gunfight leaves three hills people killed in Naniarchar

Three persons were killed and another was injured in a gunfight between activists of two organisations of indigenous people at Jurappapara village in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati yesterday morning.

Police and army sources at the district headquarters confirmed the incident.

The shootout took place between two armed groups allegedly belonging to the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) and the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), which opposes the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord.

Troops and police identified those killed as Shanti Chakma, 45, Utpalendu Chakma, 40 and Adhikanta Chakma, 22, all from nearby villages.

The injured, wearing an olive green uniform and identified as Sumati Ranjan Chakma, 32, was admitted to Naniarchar Upazila Health Complex.

Some sources however said the number of deaths might be higher. Three bodies were recovered and some more taken away by other 'fighters'.

More than 30 armed youths reportedly belonging to the PCJSS swooped on the village in a bid to take control of it. On information, a group of UPDF activists turned up there and resisted them, sources in the locality said.

The two sides exchanged fire for about an hour. Bodies of the three killed in the gunbattle were brought to the morgue at the district town for autopsy.

Police and army personnel rushed to the area. None however could be held in this connection.

A special drive will be launched to nab armed activists of the two organisations, an official said.