A United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) leader was gunned down by unidentified assailants on Sunday in Logang union of Panchhari upazila in Khagrachhari district.
The victim, Miton Chakma, was a prominent figure and former president of Pahari Chhatra Parishad at Chattogram University.
The UPDF's head of publicity and publication, Niron Chakma, confirmed the tragic incident through a press release issued on Sunday evening.
Angya Marma, the district organizer for the UPDF, condemned the attack, calling it a "cowardly and heinous act" perpetrated by the Santu Larma-led faction of the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS-Santu Larma).
"This attack on the death anniversary of Manabendra Narayan Larma is particularly egregious," Marma stated. "By resorting to such violence, the Santu group has once again revealed itself as a murderous force. We urge people from all walks of life to unite against this divisive policy."
Marma further alleged that certain influential groups within the ruling class are perpetuating conflict in the Chattogram Hill Tracts by leveraging the Santu group, exacerbating tensions between rival factions. "Falling into this conspiracy, the Santu group is conducting armed assaults on the UPDF," he added, urging collective resistance against these acts.
Panchhari Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Jasim, reported that locals had informed the police about gunfire, which rang out between 5:00 AM and 8:00 AM. "However, we have not received any official reports of casualties, and we have yet to visit the scene as it is located in a remote area," Jasim noted.
On October 30, three UPDF activists were killed in Latiban union, also in Panchhari. The victims were followers of Prasit Khisa, the leader of one UPDF faction, which accused the rival democratic UPDF group of orchestrating the attack.
