Bandarban Correspondent:

Newly armed group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) attacked a branch of Sonali Bank in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila tonight, looting cash and firearms. They also took the bank manager Nizam Uddin as a hostage.

Robbers have looted Tk 2 crore from the vault of the Sonali Bank branch in Ruma Upazila of Bandarban. They also took away 10 guns belonging to Ansar members responsible for the security of the bank.

Didarul Alam, Ruma additional upazila nirbahi officer, confirmed that this happened around 8.45 p.m. Tuesday.

Didarul Alam, Ruma additional upazila nirbahi officer, confirmed that this happened around 9:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Eyewitness traders of Ruma market said that around 8.45 pm, 60-70 bandits entered the mosque of the Upazila administration complex and closed the door. Many officials were there for prayers. The bandits beat them up by abducting them all. They took the bank manager hostage to the bank at gunpoint and made the bank employees open the vault and stole cash.’

They also assaulted and disarmed 10 police personnel and four Ansar members and snatched their guns and bullets. The KNF terrorists also beat up the devotees in the mosque and took away their mobile phones. They left the area half an hour later, taking Nizam Uddin with them.

After the incident, panic has spread among the government officials and employees working in the Upazila Parishad area.

Didarul Alam also said that security has been strengthened there after this incident. Army and police are now patrolling there.