Thanchi Police Station in Bandarban under fire from assailants

A gunfight broke out at Thanchi police station in Bandarban at around 8:30 PM on Thursday, as assailants opened fire, prompting police to respond in kind.

DIG of Chittagong Range Noor-E-Alam Mina confirmed this, Prothom Alo reports.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan also confirmed this incident, stating: "I have been informed of the shooting at Thanchi police station."

Assailants were intermittently firing from the southeastern hill adjacent to the station, with police retaliating, DIG Mina said.

He assured that the station was well-staffed, noting, "After inspecting the station this afternoon, I reinforced it with additional forces. Our officers are safe despite the sporadic gunfire."

Locals, speaking after hearing the gunshots, expressed their fear. Many lay on the ground, fearing the bullets might hit them. They indicated that the KNF was involved in the gunfire.

Earlier on Wednesday, KNF, a militant group in Chittagong Hill Tracts, reportedly looted Tk 1.75 million from two bank branches near the Thanchi police station.

Prior to this, on Tuesday night, they also launched an attack on the Sonali Bank branch in Ruma Bazar, kidnapping branch manager Nizamuddin.

The Rapid Action Battalion, or RAB, rescued the Sonali Bank manager on Thursday.