3 KNA members killed in ‘gunfight’ with army in Bandarban

Bangladesh Army in a drive at a secret hideout of the Kuki Chin National Army (KNA)   in the densely forest frontiers of Rowangchhari and Ruma upazilas in Bandarban hill district leaving three KNA  men killed in a gunfight on Sunday.

A release of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the news in the afternoon.

The remaining KNA  members, however, fled the scene in the face of the army's operation.

During the drive, the Army personnel recovered locally made weapons, cartridges, military uniforms, and other equipments from the scene, the ISPR added.

Meanwhile, District Additional Superintendent of Police Raihan Kazemi confirmed the incident.

He said the police recovered the three bodies and sent those to Bandarban Hospital from Rowangchhari.  The bodies will be handed over to their families after the autopsies.

The deceased were identified as Edithang Bom, 24, Rualsangnuam Bom, 23, and Rualminlian Bom, 20.

Following the incident, the army personnel conducted further searches in the bordering areas of the two upazilas.

Security measures have been tightened in the trouble-torn areas in Bandarban, local sources said.