Army person, 3 terrorists killed in shootout

Four people were killed, including an army person, and one was injured in a gunfight between members of Bangladesh Army and armed men on Wednesday night.

Deceased army person Habibur Rahman was a senior warrant officer. The remaining three of the deceased are armed terrorists. The army patrol team seized one submachine gun and bullets from the spot.

Injured soldier Firoz was taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Chattogram, said a press release from the region headquarters of army in Bandarban.

According to the security forces' sources, there was a shootout at around 10.30pm in the Raingkhyang area of the Ruma zone. A press release from the 69 infantry brigade in Bandarban and regional headquarters of Bangladesh Army, acting on a tip off that a group of terrorist were staying at Bathi Para area to extort money, a patrol team led by senior warrant officer of Raingkhyang lake camp, Habibur Rahman conducted a drive there.

Sensing the army men's presence, the terrorists opened fire at them. The members of the army also opened fire in reply and three of the terrorists died on the spot. Another seven-eight terrorists were retreated by firing randomly at the members of the army.

Warrant officer Habibur Rahman was shot in his head at this time and died on the spot. Soldier Firoz sustained a bullet in his leg. He was taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Chattogram Thursday morning.

The patrol team seized a submachine gun, 275 rounds of bullet, three magazines, three locally made guns, five bullets of the guns, four pairs of uniforms and Tk 52,900 of extorted money from the spot.

To ensure the safety of the locals, the members of the army have been conducting combing operations in the area.

The press release further said all of the armed terrorists are members of the main faction of Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS). The JSS was supposed to surrender all of their weapons and ammunition as per the Hill Tracts Peace Accord but they denied it later and patronised armed terrorists.

However, JSS chief Shantu Larma accused the government of breaching the terms of the peace accord instead of implementing the agreement. Currently, four regional groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts have made the lives of the locals miserable by carrying out malicious activities including murder, kidnapping and extortion.

The JSS is yet to make any statement in this regard.