Three commanders of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) had ordered and led the killing mission of UPDF (Ganatantrik) convener Tapan Jyoti Chakma Barma and five others, leaders of UPDF (Ganatantrik) alleged on Wednesday.

The three are Sukriti Chakma, 40, Kantomoy Chakma, 35 and Ziku Chakma, 25. According to police, all of them are involved with UPDF.

UPDF (Ganatantrik) Spokesperson Liton Chakma said, “Three people, whom police arrested from Chattogram (Chittagong) on Monday night, are directly involved in the May 3 and 4 killings.”
The trio, who all are hailed from Lkhmichara of Khagrachari, had left home since the killings,” said Liton Chakma.


Denying the allegation UPDF Publicity chief Niron Chakma said, “The killings are the result of infighting among UPDF Ganatantrik men.”
JSS (MN Larma) Information and Publicity Secretary Sudhakar Tripura said, “We are ready to cooperate with police in investigating the murders.”

On May 3, Rangamati’s Naniarchar Upazila Chairman and Jana Sanghati Samiti (MN Larma) faction leader Shaktiman Chakma was shot dead in front his office while another leader, Rupom Chakma, was shot and injured.
The next day, 6 people were killed in an armed ambush on their way to the funeral of Shaktiman. The dead included top UPDF Ganatantrik leader Tapan Jyoti Barma.
Three days after the killings, two cases were filed with police in Rangamati on May 9 naming 118 people.
Conflicts among different groups in the Chattogram Hill Tracts have left 24 people killed in the last six months.
Conflict prevails between at least four active groups in the Hill Tracts, which were once part of a single organisation called Chattogram Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS), which signed a peace treaty in 1997.