Aug 06, 2012

Chittagong Hill Tracts: Bengali Settlers Attack Indigenous Village


Out of fear of a communal attack 165 Jumma villagers flee to Indian border guard forces but are able to return next day.

Below is an article published by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti:

 

On 4 August 2012 Bengali settlers attempted to commit communal attack on indigenous Jumma villagers at Kadamtali village of Barnal union under Matiranga upazila in Khagrachari district. Following the communal tension, hundreds of Jumma villagers took shelter at Indian boarder of Tripura State.

 

It is learnt that on that day Bengali settlers spread rumor that a dead boy of Bengali settler was found near Jumma locality at Lalmian Bagan of Mongsajai Karbari Para of Tabulchari union under Matiranga upazila. But this propaganda was found baseless and fabricated.

 

The Bengali settlers again propagated that a group of Jummas attacked three Bengali settlers who were returning from Matiranga bazaar. Bengali settlers also alleged that taka 50,000 were looted from Bengali youths. Following this propaganda, at around 8.30 pm, a group of Bengali settlers by two jeeps and around 30 motorbikes gathered at Kadamtali area to attack indigenous Chakma villagers. At that time two Chakma youths namely Pratulya Chakma (28) s/o Japani Mohan Chakma and Pantha Moni Chakma (25) s/o America Chakma of Amtali village were confined by Bengali settlers. Ali Akbar, chairman of Barnal union rescued two Chakma youths from the attack of Bengali settlers and at that time Bengali settlers attacked the house of Sunil Chakma s/o Turunga Chakma of Kadamtali village. Bengali settlers ransacked the valuables of the house.

 

Then Bengali settlers went to Dak Banglow bazaar and started to attack on Buddhist temple. At that time a group of BGB led by lieutenant colonel Md. Tabid rushed there and refrained Bengali settlers from attack on Buddhist temple. However, Bengali settlers threw brickbat on the Buddhist temple and some shops of Dak Banglow Bazaar.

 

Following the attack of Bengali settlers, at around 9.30 pm indigenous Chakma villagers of Kadamtali village numbering 165 persons fled to Indian side crossing the boarder of Bangladesh and Tripura State of India. At that time, Indian border gurd forces, the BSF gave shelter the fleeing Jumma people formally registering the names of the Jumma villegers. On 5 August 2012 in the morning, a flag meeting between BSF and BGB was held and 165 Jummas who were registered by BSF were handed over to BGB Subedar Md. Ali of Tabulchari BOP.

 

Besides, at night the Jumma villagers of Master Para of Tabulchari and Taindong area took shelter at boarder area fleeing from their villages for their security and safety. They returned home early in the morning on 5 August.