Four people, including an army member, were killed in a gunfight in Bandarban

News Desk

A total of four people, including three members of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS-Santu Larma) and a soldier, were killed in a gunfight with the Bangladesh Army in Bandarban.

The incident took place in the remote Ruma area of ​​the district around 10:30 pm on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed in a press release.

Speaking to media on Thursday, Ruma police duty officer Abul Kalam Azad said, “Habibur Rahman, a senior warrant officer of the army, died after a gunfight with armed PCJSS-Santu Larma members.

“Meanwhile, another army member named Firoz Alam was also shot in the right leg. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Chittagong,” the police official added.

A patrol team led by Senior Warrant Officer Habibur Rahman raided Bothi Para area of ​​Ruma Upazila last night on the basis of secret information, the statement said.

Sensing danger, a group of PCJSS-Santu Larma men opened fire on the army officers, forcing them to retaliate in self-defense.

Three criminals died at the spot and while the others managed to flee, reads the ISPR release.

During the operation, the army patrol team seized an SMG, 254 bullets, three magazines, three single barrel guns, four special uniforms and Rs 52,900 in cash from the scene, which the army claimed was collected as extortion, the release added. .

At present, the Bangladesh Army is conducting a massive search operation in the area to ensure the safety of the locals.

Since the independence of the country in 1971, a total of 161 army officers have lost their lives trying to maintain peace and harmony in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.