Two groups exchange gunfire over territorial control in Sajek
Collected Photo
Armed members of the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) have exchanged gunfire several times over territorial control in a remote hilly area of Sajek in Rangamati.
The clashes broke out around 1:00 pm on Saturday in the Kalabunia area of Sajek. The incident sparked panic among local residents.
Tofazzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sajek Police Station, said, “We have received reports of an exchange of gunfire between the two groups in the Kalabunia area of Sajek. We are treating the matter seriously. The overall situation in the area is being monitored.”
Earlier, on September 29, a nine-year-old girl named Sanjita Tripura was caught in crossfire between the two groups in the Mandirchhara area of Machalong in Sajek and suffered a gunshot wound. She was shot in her left hand. She was later rescued and provided medical treatment.
The incident also raised concerns about the safety of ordinary people in the remote hilly areas.
Meanwhile, tourism activities in Sajek remain suspended due to the ongoing blockade. The blockade has also disrupted the transportation of essential food supplies, fuel and medicine for local residents.
Tourism-dependent businesses, cottage and resort owners, employees and transport workers have been facing financial losses for a prolonged period.
Longstanding disputes, road blockades and repeated incidents of gunfire have placed both Sajek’s tourism industry and the daily lives of local residents under uncertainty.
Locals hope that a lasting solution to the blockade and conflict will be reached through dialogue soon, restoring a normal and safe environment in the hills.
