1 dies as PCJSS,UPDF trade fire

RANGAMATI, Dec 30 (bdnews24.com): A member of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), that opposes the hill tracts peace treaty of 1997, has been killed in a gunfight with its rival Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) at Jurachhari Upazila in Rangamati. Jurachhari police sub-inspector Ataur Rahman told bdnews24.com that the hour-long gunfight took place at Balukhali, remote area under Sadar union of the upazila Thursday evening over establishing supremacy in the area. The body of the deceased - identified as Supayan Chakma (35), of Massogram under Bhanga union of the Sadar Upazila - was recovered from the forest in Ugoichhari area Friday around 10am. UPDF's Rangamati unit spokesman Michael Chakma said that one of their activists was killed in a sudden attack by PCJSS group members. "But there was no gunfight." Sajib Chakma, assistant information and publicity secretary of PCJSS central committee, denied any involvement of his organisation in the attack. "We've no armed organisation. As far as I know, the gunfight resulted from an internal feud of the UPDF," he claimed.