Bullets for betrayal? Police probe JSS defection theory in Khagrachhari triple killing

Police suspect the shootings of three young men in Khagrachhari on Monday stemmed from a possible defection of the trio from Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS- Santu Larma) to its rival, United People's Democratic Front (UPDF).

The JSS, however, has denied any links to the killings, claiming neither the victims nor the attackers had any relation to their organisation.

UPDF spokesperson Angya Marma, meanwhile, said the incident stemmed from a revolt by ordinary members within the JSS, led by former rebel leader Shantu Larma.

He said, "For a long time, resentment and dissatisfaction had been growing among the Santu faction’s grassroots leaders and activists due to various irregularities, discrimination, corruption and nepotism within the party, as well as being forced against their will to become involved in conflict with the UPDF.”

He said as a result, when “five of their members rebelled today and attempted to leave the party, the JSS Santu Group opened fire on them at Madhumangal Para.”

He further claimed, two others were taken hostage, although this was not confirmed by law enforcers.

Speaking to Daily Waadaa, a senior police official, under the condition of anonymity, said it is initially believed the three young men were preparing to leave JSS and join the UPDF.

For this reason, they may have become targets of the JSS.

He, however, said the matter is still under investigation and all aspects are being examined.

JSS spokesman Dipayan Khisa maintains the allegations against his organisation are baseless.

"These allegations are completely false. We have heard that the three young men were taken off an autorickshaw and shot dead. JSS has no involvement in this incident."

On Monday afternoon, Padma Chakma, 18, Dhana Chakma, 18, and Riyel Chakma, 18, were shot dead in the Madhumangal Para area of Chengi Union in Panchhari upazila of Khagrachhari.

At first, police officials told media that the deaths occurred during a gunfight between JSS and UPDF.

According to police and local sources, the victims were travelling by autorickshaw from the Logang area toward Panchhari Sadar.

On the way, the armed men waylaid the three and forced them off the autorickshaw, before opening fire. All three died at the scene.

The attackers then fled.

Among the victims, Padma Chakma and Dhana Chakma were from Rangamati, while Riyel Chakma was from Panchhari upazila in Khagrachhari.

In addition to the three bodies, police recovered 14 spent bullet casings, four live rounds, and two bullets that missed their targets from the scene.

Panchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ferdous Wahid told Waadaa, "None of the victims' family members has yet come to receive the bodies. We are waiting for them. If the family does not file a case, police will do so as a complainant."

Although post-mortem examinations of the bodies have been completed, they remain at the morgue of Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital as the victims' relatives have not yet arrived.

The Bangladesh government and the JSS, the main insurgent group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, signed a peace treaty in 1997.

The UPDF, whose leaders are believed to be living in India, did not sign the agreement.

Although the treaty has brought to an end formal insurgency in the region, violence stemming from rivalries between factions of the main CHT groups continued for decades. Some estimates say more than 2,000 hill people were killed in the armed clashes between these factions.