Bandarban:Security forces fought a three-hour fierce gunbattle with a band of criminals in a remote hilly area in Bandarban early yesterday exchanging around 500 shots. The criminals used sophisticated weapons including rocket launchers during the shootout in Lulain, Tumbru, Hlapai Mukh and Latajhiri areas, sources said. Army and other official sources confirmed the incident but would not disclose details about it. It is unclear whether any one was injured or dead in the gunfight. A tense situation was prevailing in the area, 15 kilometres off Bandarban, after the battle and communications with the district headquarters remained snapped until last night.Local people said they woke up at about 3:00am hearing the sounds of heavy firing which continued till early in the morning creating panic in the area. The gunfight occurred when a gang of criminals fired gunshots at the army personnel patrolling the area, officials said on condition of anonymity. The criminals fired at least 250 rounds of shots and the army men replied with as many bullets to disperse the thugs, the officials added. Another source said the members of the security forces and the police, acting on a tip-off, encircled a hideout of the criminals on Monday afternoon. When they started operation at 2:00am yesterday, the criminals fled firing shots from heavy weapons.
Police said the army and criminals exchanged around 200 shots in another gunfight on October 22 last year at Tarachha near yesterday's shootout spot. Two army personnel and three criminals were injured in the gunfight. The criminals from their hilly hideouts launched armed attacks on the security forces on at least four occasions during the few months and killed a lance corporal of the army at Jamchhari in the district on November 21. On August 26 last year, the army seized a huge cache of firearms and ammunition from a deep forest in Lulain area.