3 killed in UPDF-JSS firing in Panchhari

❐ District Representative

Old conflicts between regional organizations over dominance in the mountains have once again turned into bloody clashes.

A fierce gunfight broke out between armed activists of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) and the Parbatya Chittagong Jana Sanghati Samiti (JSS) in Panchhari upazila of Khagrachhari, killing three people on the spot.

The incident took place around noon on Monday, July 6, in the remote Madhumangal Para area of ​​Chengi Union in the upazila.

According to local sources, gunfire suddenly broke out between the two sides in the Madhumangal Para area around noon. This sudden gunfight spread extreme panic throughout the area.

The police and local administration believe that the two sides chose this armed conflict to establish and maintain their sole dominance in the area.

Confirming the incident, Panchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Ferdous Wahid said in the afternoon that the shooting incident took place over dominance between the two warring parties and three people were killed.

He added, “The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. Immediately after receiving the information, a special police team left for the scene to recover the bodies and bring the situation under control.”

No official statement or response was received from the two accused regional organizations, UPDF or JSS, until the afternoon after the horrific clash and the death of three people.

Ordinary local residents have demanded strict action by law enforcement agencies and additional security in the area to end the long-standing ethnic conflict and politics of corpses in the hilly region.