Criminal killed in gunfight with army

A criminal was killed and two minor boys were injured in a gunfight between criminals and an army patrol in Naikkhong Mukh Para in the district's Lama upazila yesterday.

The identity of the dead could not be known as of filing of this report at 2:00am today.

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The injured, Mang Preng Mro, 8, and Du Nong Mro, 7, of the same area, were rushed to Lama Upazila Health Complex. Later, the two were moved to Chittagong Medical College Hospital as their condition deteriorated, said locals.

The two boys were injured by stray bullets from criminals, said an official of Inter Services Public Relation Department.

Maj Mustafizur Rahman, acting commander of Alikadom zone, said the dead, a member of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS), was in army uniform.

The army patrol cordoned off Naikkhong Mukh Para area around 4:00pm on information that an armed gang was there, he told The Daily Star.

“Shortly afterwards criminals opened fire on the troops. The army men retaliated, firing shots. The two sides fired at least 50 shots during the gunfight that lasted for around 10-15 minutes,” added the acting zone commander.

According to Mustafizur, the army team searched the area and recovered a bandolier from the deceased.

Rezaul Karim Shammi, assistant director of the ISPR Department, confirmed the incident. The army men opened fire after being attacked by criminals, he said.

The PCJSS, however, denied its link with any armed men.

“Certain quarters were trying to tarnish the image of Jana Sanghati Samiti by indicating those people's association with our organisation,” said Sajib Chakma, assistant information secretary of PCJSS.