The arrestees were identified as Biswajoti Chakma alias Baganbabu alias Kinkar alias Shidong, 50, a suspected kingpin of an arms-trading group and former commander of Janasonghhati Samiti, and his two accomplices Binoy Tripura alias Sanjoy alias Bakhor, 43, and Ulla Pru Marma, 47.
A team of the armed forces arrested them from the place around 5:45 am and recovered a heavy machine gun and a carbine from their possession while few of their accomplices managed to flee the scene sensing the presence of the security forces, according to local intelligence source.
The arrestees confessed that they have long been supplying arms to several groups of the hill tracts based political parties including United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) and Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) operating in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts.