A member of United People's Democratic Front was killed allegedly by a group of unidentified criminals in Bandarban's Baghaichari upazila yesterday.

The dead is Uday Bikash Chakma alias Sikke Dhan, 45, of Bongoltoli union in the upazila. He was the organiser of Bongoltoli union unit UPDF.

According to police and witnesses, a group of criminals opened fire on the UPDF leader when he was having tea at a local tea stall in Horengatoli area. Uday was left dead on the spot.

In a statement UPDF Rangamati unit Organiser Sochol Chakma alleged that PCJSS-MN Larma was involved with the murder.

Sochol also demanded immediate detentions of the killers in his statement.

Contacted, Prashanto Chakma, assistant information and publicity secretary of PCJSS-MN Larma Central Committee, denied UPDF's allegation and said Uday might have been killed over UPDF's internal conflicts.

Muhammad Abul Monjur, officer-in-charge of Baghaichari Police Station, said they recovered the body from the spot and sent it to Khagrachhari General Hospital for autopsy.

No case was lodged and no one was held in this connection till the time this report was filed.

More than 52 people were killed in suspected inter-party conflicts between regional political parties in Rangamati and Khagrachhari in last two years.