[🇧🇩-Land] Bangladesh Army VS Kuki Chin

[Saif]

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/militancy/312628/one-soldier-killed-as-army-captures-knf

One soldier killed as Army captures KNF headquarters with training camp in Bandarban​

An army patrol team was hit by an IED planted by the terrorists, says a ISPR press release

UNB
Publish : 01 Jun 2023, 06:57 PMUpdate : 01 Jun 2023, 06:55 PM

An army patrol team on Thursday occupied a secret training camp with the headquarters of armed terrorists of KNF (Kuki-Chin National Front) in Thepi para area of Ruma upazila of Bandarban.

Following complaints from local residents living around the KNF training camp area, a patrol team of Ruma Sena Zone left for the camp on the basis of intelligence inputs for their safety. As the team approached the training camp, the KNF armed terrorist group fled, according to a press release of the – Inter Service Public Relation Directorate (ISPR).

However, at around 09:20am, the army patrol team was hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) planted by the terrorists. One of the soldiers injured in the blast was rushed to Chittagong Combined Military Hospital by helicopter in a critical condition.

Later, the soldier Tujam (30), died while undergoing treatment at the hospital, it said.

Such potential IEDs are being identified and deactivated by the army's specialized team for the safety of the general public, it added.

Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed expressed shock at the death of the soldier and conveyed his condolences to his family, the release also said.

In recent times, KNF terrorists have been creating anarchy in the hilly townships of Ruma, Roanchhari and Thanchi upazilas of Bandarban through continuous killing, kidnapping, creating panic in the public mind.
Bangladesh Army and other law enforcement agencies are working to prevent such human rights violations, the release further said.​

 

[Saif]

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/313688/another-bangladesh-army-man-killed-in-ied

Another Bangladesh Army man killed in IED explosion in Bandarban​

An army patrol team was hit by an IED planted by the KNF terrorists, says a ISPR press release

Tribune Desk
Publish : 17 Jun 2023, 07:34 PMUpdate : 17 Jun 2023, 07:34 PM

An army soldier has been killed and another injured in an IED explosion in Bandarban's Ruma upazila.
The deceased was identified as Monnaf Hossain Raju, 21.

The incident took place at Chhilopi para in Ruma upazila at 1:30pm on Friday, said a media statement of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday.

The IED (Improvised Explosive Device), planted by separatists of KNF (Kuki-Chin National Front), hit an army patrol team when they were on their way to Paynum Para area for distribution of fresh water and food saline from Bhipi Para TOB.

Soldier Monnaf Hossain Raju and Soldier Md Rezaul received serious injuries in several parts of their bodies by sprinters of IED.

They were shifted to Chittagong Combined Military Hospital by air force helicopter on an urgent basis for treatment where Monnaf succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed expressed shock at the death of the soldier and conveyed his condolences to his family, the statement said.​

 

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https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/311615/journalist-arrested-on-suspicion-of-being

Journalist arrested on suspicion of being informant of KNF​

Police say the arrestee is the assistant foreign affairs secretary of the KNF central committee

S Bashu Das
Publish : 19 May 2023, 11:50 PMUpdate : 19 May 2023, 11:50 PM


Members of the Bangladesh Army have arrested a journalist in Ruma upazila of Bandarban suspecting him of being an informant to the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) separatist group.

The arrestee, Longa Khumi, who works at the Daily Manab Zamin, is known to be the assistant foreign affairs secretary of the KNF central committee.

Ruma police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Alamgir Hossain confirmed the news on Friday, saying that a case has been filed against the journalist.

Longa Khumi was presented before the Bandarban Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on Friday afternoon when the court ordered him to be sent to Bandarban district jail pending an investigation, OC Alamgir said.

“There were two cases against him at the station. He was shown arrested in these case,” he added.

According to the police, Longa Khumi had been providing information to the KNF under the guise of journalism for a long time.

He was arrested on the basis of the confidential KNF official documents the joint forces seized recently during the ongoing special operations in the district.

In the last few days, two army officers were killed in an ambush by the KNF armed members in Ruma and another local died in a landmine blast.

Since last year, the law enforcers have been conducting raids in different areas of Bandarban to arrest the members of KNF and militant group Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya, who are working in concert to destabilize the situation, police say.
​

 

[Saif]

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/330194/knf-delegation-sits-with-authorities-for-peace

KNF delegation sits with authorities for peace​

Four MoUs signed between two sides
​

Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and a peace establishment committee meet in Bandarban on Sunday, November 5, 2023. Photo: Dhaka Tribune
S Basu Das, Bandarban
Publish : 06 Nov 2023, 12:00 AMUpdate : 06 Nov 2023, 12:00 AM


The first in-person meeting between armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and a peace establishment committee was held on Sunday amid heavy security.

The meeting was held at Munlaipara community center, 5km away from Ruma Sadar Upazila, at 11am.

Earlier, the KNF had held several video conferences with the peace establishment committee, but this was the first time that a direct meeting was held between the two sides.

The meeting, led by the committee chairman and Zilla Parishad Chairman Kya Shew Hla, was attended by seven members of the committee and five members of KNF.

Endar Lal Ang Lian, senior advisor to the president of KNF and team leader, represented KNF at the meeting.

Besides, government officials, police, security forces, and senior officials of intelligence agencies were also present.

"The KNF's six-point demand and the issue of bringing KNF members back to normal life were discussed in the meeting," Kya Shew Hla told reporters after the meeting.

"Dialogue between both sides took place in a very peaceful environment. The demands of KNF were discussed. But no decision was made," he added.

The next meeting will be held in December, he said.

Additional members of law enforcement agencies including police and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed in the area before the meeting.

Four memorandums of understanding (MoU) were signed between the two sides during the long meeting on Sunday.

The 18-member peace establishment committee was formed in June this year with the leaders of various communities under the leadership of Zilla Parishad Chairman Kya Shew Hla to help KNF members return to normal life.

According to the understandings KNF will remain from taking up arms during the peace process and cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, the government will take all out effort so that Kuki people can return to homes. It said that KNF will send proposals to the authorities for the betterment of Kuki population in education, health, food and employment creation.

These proposals will be dealt with utmost sincerity. The final understanding, according to sources, states that the next date for talks will be decided upon discussion among both sides.

Since November 15 last year, at least 548 people from 132 families have taken refuge in Mizoram due to the armed activities of KNF and operations by different security agencies to arrest its members.

On January 28, some 140 Marma women, men and children took refuge in Ruma Sadar from Mulpi Para, but they returned to their homes on February 5.

On March 10, around 220 people of 56 families from Barathli 4 Union of Rangamati's Bilaichhari took shelter in Tangchangya Reichha and Rowangchhari Sadar Upazila in fear of the armed activities by the KNF members.

The KNF surfaced on the scene last year after the Indian border forces arrested a dozen members with arms and ammunition in Mizoram.
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Bangladesh Army demolishes a base of Kuki Chin.

 

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Militant outfit Kuki Chin involved in bank robberies: home minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said members of the militant outfit Kuki Chin are involved in the bank robberies at Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban

www.thedailystar.net

Militant outfit Kuki Chin involved in bank robberies: home minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan. Star file photo

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said members of the militant outfit Kuki Chin are involved in the bank robberies at Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban.

"Kuki Chin was involved in the bank robbery and firearms looting incidents. They also assaulted police constables, bank guards and Ansars," he told journalists at his ministry office in the capital.

"First, they switched off the electricity substation and then started looting valuables and firearms. Later, they abducted a local Sonali Bank manager when he was performing Tarabi prayers," he said.

The minister said that the militant outfit is also responsible for today's looting of cash and valuables at Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank at Thanchi.

The minister, however, said an investigation is ongoing to unveil more information regarding the incidents.

Police and BGB are carrying out operations to capture the culprits and rescue the looted items, he added.

"We will do everything necessary to bring the situation under control. Police and BGB have been carrying out their duties. If necessary, Bangladesh Army will also join the operation against Kuki Chin and other militant outfits," he added.

Kamal said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, Special Branch Chief Md Monirul Islam and other high officials are now in Bandarban to assess the situation.

Replying to a question about border killings, he said that talks are going on with India to stop border killings. Basically, citizens of both countries who are engaged in illegal businesses are victims of such incidents, he added.​

 

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Situation tense after Thanchi Bazar gunfight

The gunfight that erupted in Bandarban's Thanchi Bazar area has stopped, said police

www.thedailystar.net

Situation tense after Thanchi Bazar gunfight

Thanchi upazila. Image: Google Maps

The gunfight that erupted in Bandarban's Thanchi Bazar area has stopped, said police.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chattogram Range Police Nure Alam Mina told The Daily Star that the KNF terrorists 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.

However, the gunfight triggered panic among the locals in the market and adjacent areas, days after armed terrorists robbed Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank in Thanchi Bazar.

Within 200 to 300 yards of Thanchi Bazar is Thanchi Police Station, a BGB camp. There is also a Bangladesh Army checkpost near the bazar.​

 

[Saif]

Govt must view Bandarban events politically, diplomatically

THE attacks on banks and security facilities in remote Bandarban between April 2 night and April 3 afternoon that the home affairs...

www.newagebd.net

Govt must view Bandarban events politically, diplomatically
Published: 00:00, Apr 05,2024

THE attacks on banks and security facilities in remote Bandarban between April 2 night and April 3 afternoon that the home affairs minister suspects Kuki-Chin National Front operatives to have carried out are highly surprising. They are so not only because the incidents appear to be 'a new phenomenon' but also because there was no resistance when the armed ethnic group carried out the attack at Thanchi in day light amidst heavy deployment of security and law enforcement personnel in the area. The armed group attacked two Sonali Bank branches at Ruma and Thanchi and a Krishi Bank branch at Thanchi — looted 12 firearms, 400 bullets and Tk 1.7 million in cash and abducted the manager of the Sonali Bank branch at Ruma. More than a hundred operatives of the armed group attacked the Ruma bank branch at night and the Thanchi bank branches an hour after the noon the next day. A local government official is reported to have said that the group had held the manager of the bank branch to a ransom of Tk 1 million. The events that took everyone by surprise warrant that the government should find out the people involved in the attacks.

But it appears that there is more to the events than meets the eye. And, it is political aspects rather than mere criminal issues. The Kuki-Chin National Front have been around the corner for long and the home affairs ministry initiated peace talks with the group after several army personnel, civilians and members of the armed group died and became wounded in clashes in 2022 and 2023. A government delegation held dialogues with the group in November 2023 and March 2024 at Ruma after a series of virtual meetings spanning the preceding months. Yet, general people are largely in the dark about the group and its political objectives that have supposedly prompted the government to hold meetings and dialogues. The government should, therefore, make a public statement in clear terms about the political objectives of the group and its activities. Besides, the attacks now, while peace dialogues are still under way, mean that there are political messages that the group wants to get through. The attacks at such a time also suggest that the group has defied the government and broken out of the peace process, at least for the time being. The government should look into this aspect, too, with the required earnestness. The incidents of rampant murder, abduction and rights violation that have happened in deep forests of Thanchi, Ruma and Rowangchari in the district spanning more than a couple of years also leave the government with looking into the events politically, diplomatically and militarily and to deal with them accordingly. What the government is further left with is to look into the allegations of international quarters having been involved in such incidents in the area. And, if it so happens, the foreign countries must be clearly identified and spoke to at the diplomatic level.

The government, therefore, has several issues to attend to in this connection. While it must find out the people who carried out the attacks, it must also make a public statement about the armed group and its political objectives. It must get the message that the group wants to get through and look into the events politically, diplomatically and militarily to head off any security risks.​