Gunfight with Joint Forces: UPDF member killed in Khagrachhari

An armed member of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) was killed in a gunfight with a team of joint forces in Khagrachhari Sadar upazila yesterday evening, ISPR said.

However, the identity of the victim could not be known immediately. 

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Lt Col Mohammad Rashidul Hasan, director of ISPR, told The Daily Star that the forces came to know that some 15-20 armed members of UPDF were in a secret meeting with their party chief at Kutukchhari.

They were planning to commit subversive activities in different areas. After the meeting, they returned to their den, the ISPR said in a statement.

A team of the forces went to Datkupia and Bhuachhari areas around 6:00pm, found the den and surrounded it, the statement added.

Sensing the presence of the forces members, the criminals opened fire. The joint forces then returned fire, triggering the gunfight.

During the gunfight, a member of the UPDF was killed, who was in a military uniform. The others managed to flee, the statement said.

The forces recovered a Chinese submachine gun with 49 bullets and a magazine from the spot.

They also recovered a G3 rifle with 19 bullets and a magazine, a walkie-talkie, a mobile phone and a bag belonging to the criminals, the statement added. 

The forces cordoned off the area and were carrying out a combing operation till filing of this report around 1:00am.