The Independent 5 August 2002
from Our Correspondent
BANDARBAN, Aug 4: Six tribesmen were killed in a rivalry over toll collection in the remote Baidyapara area of Roangchhari here last night.
The villagers found two tribesmen dead on the bank of the river Shangu and reported four other bodies to have been floating downstream.
Deputy Commissioner Hafijur Rahman Bhuiyan and Police Super Shamsul Alam told the matter to the newsmen after visiting the spot this morning.
Quoting the villagers, the DC and SP said the masked men kidnapped six member of their rival group from Baidyerpara bazar in the early hours today and shot them at Baidyerpara Government Primary School area.
Meanwhile, Army joined the rescue operation with police to recover four other bodies.
The identity of the victims could not be ascertained since they came from other areas.
They were engaged in collecting tolls from the boats plying in the river passing through a remote and dense forest range. They also collect tolls from the passers-by using the land route connecting the remote Upazilas of Thansi and Roma.
Earlier on June 1, the army on patrol duty confronted with a group of extortionist killing two of them and injuring three others in the area.