The Bangladesh Army on Monday conducted a successful operation against an armed group of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS, or JSS) in Bandarban’s Roangchhari upazila, seizing a cache of weapons and ammunition, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The operation was carried out around 5:00pm at Murang Bazar area based on specific intelligence, the ISPR said. Army patrols identified members of the armed group while they were allegedly collecting illegal extortion money.

Sensing the army presence, the JSS members attempted to flee and opened fire on the patrol team. The troops returned fire and chased them. During the pursuit, the assailants tried to take shelter in a school building before escaping the area.

During a subsequent search, army personnel recovered a uniformed armed JSS member, identified as Hlamangnu Marma, with gunshot injuries along with weapons and ammunition. With police assistance, he was rushed to Bandarban Sadar Hospital for treatment.

The army recovered one submachine gun (SMG), 143 rounds of SMG ammunition, 14 rounds of pistol ammunition, five rounds of blank ammunition, two weapon magazines and other equipment from the scene.

The ISPR said the Bangladesh Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of people of all ethnic communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and will continue strict operations against armed groups in the future.