DESK REPORT: Six members, including Bandarban district unit president and two central leaders, of the Manabendra Narayan Larma (MN Larma) faction of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) were killed in a sudden brush fire by a gang of armed terrorists in Baghmara area under Bandarban sadar upazila of the district on Tuesday morning.

The dead are: Ratan Tanchagnya,60, Bandarban district unit president of PCJSS (MN Larma faction), its central committee’s vice president Bimol Kanti Chakma,65, its central leaders Debit Marma,50, Joy Tripura,40, Dipen Tripura,42, and Milon Chakma,60.

Joy, Dipen and Milon were members of the group, said Uba Mong Marma, secretary of MN Larma Bandarban unit.

Two other members of the faction–Bidyut Tripura,37, and Niron Chakma,50, and another local woman Hlawang Ching Marma,25, were critically wounded in the incident.  They were referred to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital, said Dr. Ajoy Kishore Barua of Bandarban district hospiatl.

Uba Mong, who was also on the spot during the brush fire and narrowly escaped death, blamed PCJSS for the attack.

He said five armed men came to the area around 7:00am and three of them entered Ratan’s house and opened fire on the victims.

All the dead and injured, except Ratan, were from Khagrachhari and they had been staying at the party office of the newly formed unit since May 31, said Uba Mong.

The newly opened office at Baghmara is adjacent to Rantan’s house and the leaders and members often used to have meals in his house.

Bandarban district committee of the faction was formed at a press conference in Chattogram on March 13 this year.

Ratan’s wife Mimi Marma said her husband and Bimol were gossiping sitting in the yard while the others were preparing food before she heard several gunshots.

“Moments later I rushed to the spot and found them dead,” wailing Mimi.

Jerin Akhter, superintendent of police in Bandarban, said all the dead bodies were recovered from the scene and members of additional police and army were deployed in the place of occurrence.

KS Mong Marma, a central committee’s leader of Santu Larma led PCJSS, denied involvement of their party’s members in the killing. He vehemently condemned the incident.