JSS member killed in ‘gun battle’ with Army in Bandarban

The fight ensues after the Army caught a team of JSS members collecting tolls, ISPR says

A suspected member of the Parbatya Chattoggram Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) has been killed in an alleged gunfight between members of the organisation and the Army in Bandarban’s Rowangchhari.

A statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the incident occurred around 5pm on Monday at Murong Bazar.

Rowangchhari Police chief M Saker Ahmed told bdnews24.com around 10pm that the injured man had died of his injuries while undergoing treatment at Bandarban Sadar Hospital.

But the hospital’s Resident Medical Officer Dilip Chowdhury said the youth had been brought to the hospital dead around 8:30pm.

“I did not see if there were any bullet wounds on his body,” he said, adding that the 30-year-old man was recorded as unidentified.

He said the victim bore wounds on his right hand and leg.

The “gunfight” ensued when the Army, acting on a tip-off, caught a team of JSS members “collecting tolls”, the ISPR statement said.

Troops chased the JSS team after it opened fire on them while trying to escape, the statement said.

An injured JSS member, identified as Hla Mong Nu Marma, was rescued from a school building where he had taken shelter with arms and ammunition, the ISPR said.

The security forces also recovered one submachine gun, 143 rounds of SMG ammunition, 14 rounds of pistol ammunition, five rounds of blank ammunition, two magazines, and other equipment from the scene, the ISPR statement said.

The injured has been sent to Bandarban Sadar Hospital, the statement added.

Situated about 30km from Bandarban city on the Ruma road, Murong Bazar is a Mro-majority area that is also home to Khumi, Tripura, and Marma ethnic groups.

Taracha Union Parishad Chairman Unu Mong Marma said locals reported hearing gunfire near Sairun Para in Ward No 8 during the afternoon. The neighbourhood is out of mobile network coverage, he noted.