Tense situation prevails in Thanchi after heavy gunfight

A tense situation is prevailing in Thanchi Bazar after the security forces engaged in an intense gunfight with a group of armed men.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chattogram Range Police Nure Alam Mina said that the gunfight was stopped around 11pm on Thursday.

He said that the suspected members of banned terrorist outfit KNF opened fire on Thanchi Police Station from the east and south sides of the Thanchi Hill around 8:30pm prompting retaliatory fire by the law enforcers.

Later, the BGB and army personnel posted there also opened fire on the militants, he said.

"The situation is calm now. However, the situation is tense here. We are on alert," he added.

The gunfight triggered panic among the locals in the market and adjacent areas, said Additional Superintendent of Police Raihan Kajemi.

A Sonali Bank branch in remote Ruma Upazila was robbed on Tuesday night after the separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front or KNF aka the Bawm Party members kidnapped the branch manager Nizam Uddin.

Later, they demanded Tk15 lakh ransom to free him on Thursday.

The abducted manager was rescued from the Bathel Para area of Bandarban through the mediation of the Rapid Action Battalion on Thursday evening.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal vowed for taking stern action against those who were involved in armed attack and bank robbery in Bandarban.

The minister said all sorts of measures will be taken-after getting information about the robbery and kidnapping and snatching firearms.

He also said that his ministry has been working in the same way as intelligence agencies are providing information.