Besides, 500 families have taken shelter in nearby jungles because of continued threats by the armed men, said the refugees at the community centre.

On August 30, UPDF men raided the remote villages, killed one person, abducted two, looted valuables from houses, torched five houses and demanded toll from the villagers. They threatened the villagers with dire consequences if they raised their voice against them.

The villages are Chhotodolupara, Borodolupara, Chelachhara, Betchhari, Fittipara, Boroitoli and Kolabunia under Fatikchhari union of Kawkhali upazila.

Locals said the UPDF men were accompanied by some people with long beard believed to be linked to underground militants, and some members of notorious chairman Kashem bahini have long been roaming the hilly villages close to Chittagong's Fatikchhari upazila. Kashem is the prime suspect in the sensational businessman Jamal Uddin (Chittagong) abduction case.

UPDF men Royal Marma, Topan Jyoti Chakma, Amor Bikash, Milon Chakma Sugota, Robi Chandra Chakma, Vaskor Chakma and Shamir Bikash Tanchangya led the repression on the villagers, people sheltered at Ghagra alleged.

Kalonjoy Chakma, a village doctor of Dolupara, said the UPDF men have become violent after they faced a strong encounter from pro-peace accord armed men about a month back. "Since then, they (UPDF men) are forcing villagers to back them with money and other necessary things," he told newsmen.

UPDF men killed Chikon Chan Chakma, 65, of Dolupara and abducted two others-- Singha Moni Chakma, 30 and Shappya Chakma, 35. The two were yet to be recovered, said village headman Patindralal Chakma and Budhamoni Karbery.

"Firefight between armed men of both the sides -- pro and anti-peace accord-- goes on intermittently till now," said Bono Kumar Chakma and Shushil Chakma, former member of Fatikchhari Union Parishad, who are among people at the community centre.

When contacted yesterday, Additional Superintendent of Police (crime) Khosrul Haque admitted the rampage in the villages and said he has sent the officer-in- charge of Kawkhali Police Station to Ghagra community centre but he is yet to return.

On Thursday, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Kawkhali visited the victims, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Jafar Ahmed Khan last night told The Daily Star he has instructed the UNO to make a list of the affected families to provide them relief immediately.

"Since the problem is political, I have asked a senior member of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, Ushaton Talukdar, to look into the matter."