Hill Voice, 16 June 2020, Bandarban:  A member of Union Parishad (UP) critically injured in a gun attack of masked assailants in Bandarban Sadar Upazila has died on his way to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

According to the locals, on June 15, 2020 Monday around 6:30 pm, the gunmen entered the house in Bakichhara area of ​​Kuhalang union of Bandarban Sadar upazila and shot and injured China Chahla Marma, a member of Ward No. 5 of Kuhalang union.

He was shot in the upper side of his leg. Upon receiving the news, the army and police rushed to the spot. The injured UP member was rescued and admitted to Bandarban Sadar Hospital. When his condition deteriorated, he was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for better treatment.

Chairman of Kuhalong Union Sanuprue Marma said the incident took place shortly after dusk. The upper part of the leg of China Chahla Marma survived the critical bullet injuries. He was rushed to Sadar Hospital. He was later sent to Chittagong but died on the way. However, he could not confirm who shot him.

But the villagers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident could be happened due to infighting within the army-backed so-called Mog Party, which has defected from the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP). According to locals, the deceased was identified as China Chahla Marma, a close associate of the Mog Party and also a member of the ruling Awami League.

It is learnt that a collector of Mog Party was also present at the time of the incident. He narrowly escaped from the shooting. However, his name was not confirmed.

It may be mentioned that there were killings, kidnappings and counter-kidnappings between the so-called army-backed Mog Party since April and last month. Prasanu Marma, Karbari of Rijuk village in Ruma was the last victim of intra-party clash who was abducted on 6 May 2020.

Meanwhile, on 13 May 2020 Saturday night, a blank shot incident took place in the lower area of Baghmara in Rajvila Union. Locals claim they heard 10 to 12 rounds of gunfire late at night. A villager, who did not want to be named, said that members of the army-backed JSS (MN Larma) group, widely known as Reformist group, could have carried out the incident to make terror in the area.

On 31 May 2020, the army escorted a group of Reformist and UPDF (Democratic) armed members numbering 15 to 20 persons to Baghmara Bazar in Rowangchhari Upazila. Since then they have been staying at Ratan Tanchanga’s house of Baghmara along with weapons and wearing the uniforms, just 200 yards away from Baghmara Bazar army camp.

Under the protection of security and law enforcement and local administration, Reformist and UPDF (Democratic) armed members are harassing, beating, extorting and firing blank shot with an aim to make panic the people in Baghmara Bazar, Jamchhari, Ujipara, Galachipa, Kulukshyang, Nachalang etc.