A leader of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) was shot dead by miscreants in Rangamati Sadar upazila, leaving two of his sisters critically injured.
The deceased, Dharmashing Chakma, 41, served as the central vice-president of the organisation. He was killed at around 6:15am on Friday morning in the residential area of Kutukchhari union in Rangamati.
During the attack, his sisters Bhagyashobha Chakma, 31, and Kripasona Chakma, 45 also sustained gunshot injuries.
According to sources, the incident occurred when Dharmashing attempted to flee the attackers, but his foot became trapped in a waterlogged field adjacent to his home. The miscreants chased him and opened fire, hitting him in the hand, leg, and the side of his abdomen. He died on the spot.
An unnamed UPDF leader alleged that the killing was a pre-planned ambush carried out by 10 to 12 members of an armed group linked to the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS). However, no statement from the group was immediately available regarding the allegation.
Shawkat Akbar Khan, the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Rangamati General Hospital, confirmed that Bhagyashobha and Kripasona were initially admitted to the facility. However, as their conditions were deemed critical, they were subsequently referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Jasim Uddin, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station, stated that the police had received reports of gunfire in Kutukchhari. He noted that while the police were dispatched to the scene immediately to investigate the circumstances and casualties, he could not initially confirm the death until the team reached the site.
