One more killed in protest rally attack after 6 shot dead

At least six 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.

Another person was killed and three others were injured in an attack on a rally brought out in the afternoon protesting the killings in the gun battle.

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 around 8am over establishing control over the area, leaving the six 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).

Protesting the killings, locals brought out a procession at Bherachhar in the upazila in the afternoon.

However, unidentified miscreants attacked the gathering around 1pm, leaving four people injured.

The injured were taken to hospital where one of them -- Shon Kumar Chakma, 70 - succumbed to his injuries.

Additional police and army personnel were deployed in the area amid growing as tensions there, the OC added.

A five-member probe committee was formed to look into the gunfight.

The probe panel, formed with Additional District Magistrate Md Abu Yusuf as its head, has been asked to submit its report within seven days.

Its other members are Sadar Upazila Nirbahi officer Syed Shamsul Padriz, resident medical officer of Sadar Hospital Nayanmoy Tripura, senior assistant superintendent of police (sadar circle) Abdul Awal and deputy additional director of fire service Jasimuddin Majumdar.

Besides, UPDF called an eight-hour transport strike in the upazila for Monday protesting the killings.

On 3 May last, 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 the slain Naniarchar upazila parishad chairman at Betchhari in the upazila on May 4 while they were going to attend the funeral programme of Shaktiman.