Three Killed in Armed Attack in Khagrachhari

Three people were shot dead in an armed attack in the remote hill district of Khagrachhari on Monday, according to local authorities. The victims were killed in an incident that took place in Madhumangal Para, under Chengi Union No. 2 in Panchhari Upazila, at around 11:30 am. Their identities had not been confirmed at the time this report was prepared.

Local residents and eyewitnesses said the violence unfolded after five young men allegedly attempted to flee from an armed group. Witnesses claimed they were chased through the area before three of them were shot dead. The remaining two individuals were reportedly captured and taken away by the attackers. Their whereabouts and condition remain unknown.

The incident prompted an immediate response from members of the Bangladesh Army and the police, who travelled to the scene after receiving reports of the killings. Security personnel began assessing the situation while law enforcement officers initiated preliminary inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Speaking to the media, Panchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Ferdous Wahid confirmed that police had reached the location after receiving information that three bodies were lying at the scene. He said the identities of the deceased had yet to be established and that a formal investigation would be carried out. Necessary legal procedures would follow once the initial inquiry and identification process had been completed, he added.

According to claims made by local residents, the three men who were killed were believed to be members of the armed wing of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS), commonly referred to as the Santu Group. Residents alleged that the incident occurred after they attempted to leave the organisation. These claims, however, had not been independently verified by the authorities at the time of reporting.

The latest killings come against the backdrop of persistent tensions in Panchhari, where rival armed factions have been engaged in intermittent confrontations over territorial influence and dominance for several months. Local people say clashes between the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (Santu Group) and the United People’s Democratic Front (Prasit Group) have repeatedly disrupted normal life, raising concerns over security in the hill region.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts have experienced periodic armed violence involving competing groups for many years, despite efforts by law enforcement agencies to maintain stability. Incidents involving armed confrontations, abductions and fatal shootings have continued to surface in different parts of the region, highlighting the complex security challenges faced by authorities.

Officials are expected to continue investigating Monday’s incident to determine the identities of the victims, establish the sequence of events and identify those responsible for the attack. Authorities have not yet released any official information regarding possible suspects or confirmed the claims circulating among local residents.