UPDF youth leader shot dead at home in Rangamati

A leader of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF)-affiliated Democratic Youth Forum was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Kutukchhari of Rangamati Sadar upazila this morning. Two others were injured in the attack.

The deceased was identified as Dharma Sing Chakma, central vice-president of the Democratic Youth Forum, Rangamati Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib told The Daily Star.

He said police recovered the body from the scene. It would be handed over to the family after post-mortem. He also added that the two injured individuals had been taken to Chattogram for treatment.

The incident occurred around 7:00am in the Kutukchhari residential area. Dharma was at home when an armed group surrounded the house. As he attempted to flee, the attackers opened fire, killing him on the spot, said a statement issued to the media by the organisation’s central president Jiko Tripura and general secretary Barun Chakma.

His two sisters, Kripa Sona Chakma and Bhagya Shobha Chakma, were also shot and injured during the attack, it added.

The UPDF has blamed the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS), led by Santu Larma, for the killing. However, PCJSS has denied the allegation.

Sajib Chakma, assistant information and publicity secretary of the Jana Sanghati Samiti, told The Daily Star that he learned about the death of a UPDF activist through social media, but rejected any involvement. He said there was no question of the organisation being responsible for the incident.

Following the killing, UPDF activists staged an hour-long blockade on the Rangamati-Khagrachhari regional highway.