Agartala: As many as 13 cadres of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), a Left-inclined political outfit from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, were arrested from a rented house near Tripura Medical College, Hapania, in the early hours of Wednesday.
The group comprises 10 males and three females, most of whom were injured. They had illegally crossed the border into India without any documents, a senior Tripura Police official informed EastMojo.
According to sources, the cadres entered India seeking medical treatment at Tripura Medical College. They had rented a house near Nirmala Hotel under the jurisdiction of Amtali Police Station. Upon receiving a tip-off regarding their suspicious activities, the police launched a successful operation and arrested them.
The PCJSS members are believed to have sustained injuries during recent armed clashes with the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), a Chakma-dominated political rival of the PCJSS, led by Santu Larma.
A fierce gun battle had broken out between the Santu faction of the PCJSS and the Prasit faction of the UPDF in the Baghaichari upazila of Rangamati on May 14. The violence began in the early hours in the Dulobonia area of Bangaltali Union and continued intermittently throughout the day. Reports indicate that the first major exchange of gunfire occurred on Monday afternoon at Suketan field in the same union.
Local sources believe the clashes stem from a power struggle between the two groups ahead of the upcoming upazila parishad elections. Witnesses reported that nearly 1,000 rounds were fired during the confrontations. Although no casualties have been officially confirmed, several houses were struck by stray bullets, causing property damage and panic among residents.
Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shirin Akhter confirmed the gunfight, as reported by Parbattanews.
The Santu faction of the PCJSS has been under scrutiny, particularly due to the long-standing leadership of Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma.
Appointed Chairman of the CHT Regional Council during the interim government led by Dr. Mohammed Yunus, Larma has retained his position for the past 27 years, despite various political changes in Bangladesh. Holding a rank equivalent to Minister of State, he is said to enjoy significant powers and privileges. Reportedly, he maintains his own armed force, which has been linked to several internal conflicts in the CHT region.
The arrested individuals are scheduled to be produced before the court later in the day.
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