KHAGRACHHARI, Dec 12, 2023 (BSS) – Four activists of a faction of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) were shot dead and three others remained missing as suspected rival activists carried out a clandestine attack at Anil Karbari area of Logang in Panchhari Monday night, police and witnesses said today.

“We have received the report that four members of the UPDF faction were killed. Steps are underway to recover the bodies to be autopsied and subsequent legal procedures,” Panchhari police station’s officer in charge Shafiul Azam told BSS.

Residents at the neighbourhood said seven leaders and activists of UPDF (Prasit) group were staying overnight at a house in the area where they came for organisational works when the miscreants carried out the attack.

UPDF district organiser Aungue Marma in statement they went to the area to join a youth conference organised by the Gonotantrik Jubo Forum scheduled for today.

He accused rival UPDF (Ganatantrik) activists of carrying out the attack and killing the four -- Pahari Chhatra Parishad’s (PCP) former president and Gonotantrik Jubo Forum's Organising Secretary Bipul Chakma, PCP Vice-President Sunil Tripura, Gonotantrik Jubo Forum leader Liton Chakma, and UPDF member Rohin Tripura.

UPDF (Ganatantrik) President Syamol Chakma rejected Aungue Marma’s allegation saying there were several groups in the rugged hills who might have carried out the attack.

Police said the bodies would be returned to relatives after the autopsy.