SPDC gunmen raid village in Bagle

[TheTruth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: SPDC  gunmen  raid village in Bagledesh for food

24-OCT-98

            BANDARBAN, Bangladesh, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Three Myanmar
            gunmen have been killed in a fierce border battle with
Bangladeshi
            tribesmen, security officials said on Saturday. 

            The gun battle erupted in Bangladesh's restive Chittagong
Hill Tracts
            on Friday when dozens of Myanmar gunmen crossed the border
and
            raided Melong Karbaripara village, they said. 

            At least 13 of the raiders and two tribals were wounded in
several
            hours of shooting, they added. 

            A motive for the attack could not be confirmed but villagers
told
            security officials the gunmen were robbers. 

            "Friday's battle began after about 30 Myanmar gunmen stormed
the
            Melong Karbaripara village along the border," one official
said. 

            The village is home to the minority Murang tribe. 

            "The Murangs fought back with their guns, spears and bows
and
            arrows, killing at least three infiltrators. Their bodies
have been found
            by the villagers," the official added. 

            The Murangs were armed by the Bangladesh government in the
            mid-1980s to help the army fight Chakma tribal rebels. 

            The government this year made peace with the Chakma "Shanti
            Bahini" rebels, but police said the Murangs had retained
their guns for
            self defence. 

            Villagers said the wounded Myanmar gunmen were dragged back
            across the border by their comrades. Two Murangs were
treated for
            gunshot wounds, the security officials told reporters.