An activist of Jana Sanghati Samiti (JSS-MN Larma) has been killed in brushfire by miscreants in Rangamati’s Baghaichari Upazila.
The incident took place in Babupara village of the uapazila on Friday night, said Baghaichari police OC Manzurul Haque.
The deceased, Basu Chakma, 45, was an activist of JSS-MN Larman.
On Friday night, at around 8pm, a group of miscreants sprayed bullets on Basu while he was having dinner at his home, leaving him dead on the spot, police said.
The JSS has blamed the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) for the killing, which the latter denied.
“We (JSS-MN Larma) lent our support to Awami League in the Dec 30 polls for the sake of the Peace Treaty while the UPDF backed JSS-Santu Larma and they might carry out the killing,” said Sudhakar Tripura, publicity secretary of JSS MN Larma fraction.
“This could be a result of their internal feud,” said Niran Chakma, a spokesman for the UPDF.
Niran denied his organisation’s involvement in the incident.
Police have visited the spot and recovered the body, said Baghaichara police SI Md Masud. Police also seized a gun and as nine rounds of bullets from the scene.
In 1997, Prasit Khisa left the JSS to establish the UPDF in protest of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Peace Accord between then Sheikh Hasina-led government and Santu Larma.
About a decade later, Sindu Khisa led another fraction to leave the Jana Sanghati Samiti to establish the JSS (MN Larma).
Finally, Tapan Jyoti Chakma quit the UPDF in 2017 and established another party called UPDF (Democratic).
Armed conflicts among these politically divided regional parties have often rocked the CHT.
UPDF (Democratic) leader Tapan Chakma died in an armed attack in 2017.