8 dead in shootout between two groups in Bandarban
Eight people were reportedly killed in a shootout between two groups of separatists in Bandarban's Rowangchhari upazila on Thursday night.
The incident took place in Khamtang Para border area, some 20 kilometres away from the upazila sadar, Rowangchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Mannan told The Business Standard on Friday.
On information from locals, police recovered the bodies at noon. Four of the deceased were identified as Lal Lian Ngak Bom, Lal Tha Jar Bom, Van Lal Duh Bom and San Phither Thang Bom, reports UNB.
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The incident might have happened due to a conflict between the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) over establishing supremacy. However, none of the groups claimed responsibility for the incident, said OC Mannan.
In the morning, locals spotted the bodies lying on the hill and informed police, said sources.
However, 23 people have been killed so far in clashes among separatist groups such as the Jana Sanghati Samiti (JSS Reformist), the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), the UPDF Reformist, the Mog Liberation Party (MLP) and the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) in Bandarban in two years.
