Rangamati: Five suspected members of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS-MN Larma) were killed in a ‘gunfight’ with the members of Bangladesh Army at Boradam village in Baghaichhari upazila on early Saturday.

One of the deceased is Rupayon Chakma, 30.

Tipped off that a gang of 15-20 PCJSS men took position in the house of Ganbir Chakma at the village as safe haven, an Army team led by Baghaihat zone captain Lt Col Ali Haider conducted an operation there at about 5:00am, said Baghaichhari Police officer-in-charge Zakir Hossain Fakir.

Sensing the army team’s presence, the criminals opened fire at them, prompting the army personnel to fire back, triggering a gunfight, he said.

After an hour-long gunfight, the army team recovered five bodies from the spot and sent those to Khagrachhari General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

An army member, Liakat Ali, also suffered bullet wounds in the gunfight, the OC said.

Later, the team arrested three people, including house owner Ganbir, from the spot while other associates managed to flee the scene.

Seven firearms, including one pistol, one SMG, two rifles, three SLRs, and 500 bullets were recovered from the spot, police said.