Two anti-peace men shot dead in hills

Two activists of United People's Democratic Front were shot to death in Rangamati yesterday by unidentified criminals while two members of its student wing Pahari Chhattra Parishad were arrested along with a firearm in the district's Kawkhali upazila Friday night.
Police quoted locals saying Bindu Lal Chakma, 30, and Shara Bindu Chakma alias Sangu, 28, died on the spot when a gang of armed assailants opened fire on them in Moghpara village yesterday around 11:00am.
“We haven't identified the criminals but the two victims were UPDF activists,” said Saiful Alam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.
Dhruba Jyoti Chakma, chief of anti-peace treaty UPDF's Rangamati unit, alleged that members of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity carried out the attack.
PCJSS denied the claim. “None of our members are involved in the incident. It's a result of their [UPDF's] internal conflict,” Sajib Chakma, assistant publicity secretary of pro-treaty PCJSS central committee, told The Daily Star.
Meanwhile, army personnel in a raid held PCP members Utpal Chakma and Rupan Chakma Friday night from Poapara village.
The army from Kawkhali sub-zone conducted the drive led by Major Sabbir and nabbed the two and also recovered a pistol with a bullet, said Shyamol Kanti Barua, officer in-charge of Kawkhali Police Station.
Later, the two along with the pistol were handed over to police.
In a press release, UPDF termed the arrests a ploy to destroy the organisation.