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groups in Panchhari and Ramgarh upazilas on June 23 and June 24, respectively.

“During the operations, members of the armed organisation opened fire on the army, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the two sides. Subsequently, in the Barkalak area of Panchhari upazila, two members of the armed group surrendered with two AK‑47 rifles, two magazines, and 132 rounds of ammunition.

“Meanwhile, in another operation conducted in the Hajachhara area of Ramgarh upazila, one member of the armed group was killed during an exchange of fire. Later, one AK‑47 rifle, one magazine, one pipe gun, 27 rounds of ammunition, and other materials were recovered from the scene,” the statement said.

Ramgarh Police Station OC Md Nazir Alam said security forces had yet to hand over the body to police. He said the incident occurred in a remote area and that police had initiated the necessary procedures.

The UPDF claimed another member, Mongsanu Marma alias Jibon, 29, was injured and detained.

Meanwhile, another UPDF activist, Sujan Chakma, 48, was shot dead around noon in Murapara area of Babuchhara in Dighinala upazila. The UPDF blamed the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS-Santu Larma) for the killing, an allegation the group denied.

Dighinala Police Station Officer-in-Charge Iqbal Bahar said Sujan was sitting at a shop in Murapara when four or five masked men arrived on motorcycles, opened fire and fled.

Police recovered the body and took it to the police station.

In a statement, UPDF (Prasit) spokesperson Angya Marma protested both incidents, demanded justice for the killings and called for Mongsanu’s release.

He claimed that security forces, who had earlier taken position in Premtola area of Ramgarh, attacked UPDF activists. As a result, Bobin Tripura was killed and Mongsanu Marma remains missing, he added.

In the statement, Angya Marma described the claims of an exchange of fire with the security forces and the recovery of weapons as “false and fabricated”.