At least three people were killed and several others, including army personnel, were injured on Sunday as violent clashes erupted in Khagrachhari during a blockade protesting the gang rape of an indigenous teenage girl.

The unrest escalated when masked attackers set fire to shops, homes, and motorcycles at Ramesu Bazar in Guimara upazila.

The incident took place around midday, shortly after demonstrators under the banner of Jumma Chhatra Jonota enforced a blockade by placing logs and burning tires on major roads, including the Chattogram-Khagrachhari highway.

Witnesses said an altercation between protesters and security forces turned into clashes, during which gunshots were heard. At least six people were initially reported injured.

Police later confirmed that three of the injured died while receiving treatment at hospital. Several members of the security forces were also hurt, said Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General Ahsan Habib Palash.

He added that the situation was brought under control by late afternoon with additional police deployed and security operations intensified in the area.

Videos shared on social media showed shops and structures at Ramesu Bazar engulfed in flames. Locals said most traders in the market were from indigenous communities.

Residents alleged that after the clashes, a group of 20 to 25 masked men looted the market before setting it and nearby homes on fire.

The violence has left Guimara tense, with shops closed and residents largely confined indoors. Security forces continue to patrol key roads, while movement on the Chattogram-Khagrachhari route remains suspended.

Earlier in the day, the Khagrachhari district administration held a meeting with community leaders to discuss the situation. Presiding over the gathering, Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekhar Uddin Khandakar was joined by Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Supradeep Chakma, who warned that certain groups were attempting to exploit the unrest.

He urged all communities in the region to remain united and maintain peace.

The protests were sparked by an incident last Tuesday, when a teenage girl was allegedly gang-raped while returning home from private tuition. She was found unconscious in a field later that night. Police have arrested one suspect, who has been placed on a six-day remand.