Child killed by gunfire from Myanmar in Teknaf

A Bangladeshi child has been killed and several others injured after being hit by stray bullets following clashes between Myanmar's rebel group, the Arakan Army, and Rohingya armed groups across the border in Whykong, Teknaf, Cox's Bazar.

The incident occurred at around 9:00 am on Sunday in the Techchhi Bridge border area of Whykong Union in Teknaf upazila, said Sub-Inspector Khokon Chandra Rudra, Officer-in-Charge of the Whykong police outpost. The deceased child was identified as Afnan (7), the daughter of Jasim Uddin of the same area. Quoting local residents, Sub-Inspector Khokon Chandra Rudra said that intense fighting broke out on Sunday morning inside Myanmar, across the border from the Techchhi Bridge area of Whykong Union, between the rebel Arakan Army and Rohingya 
armed groups. 

Gunfire between the two sides reportedly continued for at least an hour.

At one stage, members of the Rohingya armed group retreated towards the zero line of the border and took up positions there. Around 9:00 am, clashes erupted again between the two sides. During this exchange, bullets fired from the Myanmar side struck a residential house on the Bangladeshi side of the border, killing a Bangladeshi child after she was hit by gunfire.

The police sub-inspector added that upon receiving information about the incident, members of the police, RAB, BGB and APBN rushed to the scene. 

However, angry local residents gathered and prevented law enforcement agencies from reaching the area, making it impossible to proceed to the spot.

The body of the deceased child is still at her home, said SI Khokon Chandra Rudra.

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