Khagrachhari, Aug 18 (Just News): At least seven people were gunned down and four others injured in a deadly gunfight between two factions of Chattogram Hill Tracts-based political group United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) at Swanirbhar in Sadar upazila on Saturday morning.
Shahadat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said the gun battle between members of UPDF and its breakaway faction UPDF (Democratic) broke out over establishing control over the area around 8am, leaving the seven people dead.
Three of the deceased were identified as Tapan Chakma, district unit president of UPDF-backed Pahari Chhatra Parishad, another leader Elton Chakma, and Ganatrantrik Jubo Forum leader Polash Chakma, also backed by the Prasit Khisha-led UPDF.
Three of the injured were taken to Sadar Hospital for treatment and then referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Meanwhile, additional police and army personnel were deployed in the area amid growing as tensions there, the OC added.
On May 3 last, Advocate Shaktiman Chakma, 55, chairman of Naniarchar upazila parishad and a leader of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (MN Larma faction), was shot dead by unidentified miscreants in Rangamati.
Later, five people were killed and eight others injured in a gun attack on a motorcade of the followers of slain Naniarchar upazila parishad chairman Shaktiman Chakma at Betchhari in the upazila on May 4 while they were going to attend the funeral programme of Shaktiman.
