Road blockade in Khagrachhari protesting gun attacks

KHAGRACHHARI, Aug 20 (UNB): A road blockade programme was enforced in the hill district on Monday protesting the murders of seven people, including four Chattogram Hill Tracts-based political party United People's Democratic Front-backed organisation leaders, in Saturday's gun attacks.

UPDF-backed three organisations -- Pahari Chhatra Parishad, Ganotantrik Jubo Forum and Hill Women Federation -- enforced the eight-hour road blockade.

They blockade programme, announced on Saturday, started at 6.00am disrupting traffic both on local and long-distance routes.

Security in the district has been beefed up to avoid any untoward incident.

Six people, including Tapan Chakma, district unit president of UPDF-backed Pahari Chhatra Parishad, were killed during a deadly gunfight between two factions of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) at Swanirbhar in Sadar upazila on Saturday.

Another person was killed in an attack on a rally brought out later in the day protesting the killings in the gun battle.