Jan 18, 2013

Chittagong Hill Tracts: Recent Atrocities On Jumma People


The Indigenous Tribes representing party PCJSS reports more than 20 extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances cases occurred in the Chittagong Hill Tracts since the beginning of this year.

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

Recently the anti-CHT Accord terrorist group UPDF (United Peoples Democratic Front) and reformist group (Rupayan-Tanindra group) intensified their atrocities on innocent Jumma villagers in some areas of Khagrachari and Rangamati district of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Atrocities include killing, kidnapping, collection of ransom, extortion, torture and threatening etc. UPDF and reformist group exaggerated its terrorist activities with the aim to foil the movement for implementation of CHT Accord, to destroy PCJSS leadership and to justify lame excuse for presence of military forces etc. Some atrocities committed by the UPDF and reformist group recently are as follows:

1. Shot dead of a villager in Panchari

On 8 January 2013 an innocent villager was shot dead by the armed elements of UPDF at Jagapara of Chengi union under Panchari upazila in Khagrachari district. The name of deceased was not known.

2. Kidnapping of returnee PCJSS member Sunendu Bikash Chakma

On 10 January 2013 at around 7:00 pm the armed elements of the UPDF kidnapped Mr. Sunendu Bikash Chakma Renon (55) s/o Bipin Chandra Chakma from Khabongparja village of Khagrachari municipality under Khagrachari district. Sunendu Bikash Chakma was an ex-combatant of the PCJSS and is no more involved with the PCJSS activities after returning to normal life as per CHT Accord signed between the government of Bangladesh and the PCJSS. Sunendu Bikash Chakma is yet to be released.

3. Kidnapping of returnee PCJSS member Chiranjib Tripura

On 14 January 2013 at around 4:00 pm armed cadres of UPDF kidnapped Mr. Chiranjib Tripura alias Swapan (45) s/o Indra Kumar Tripura from his house of Baragram village of Toilafang mouza under Matiranga upazila in Khagrachari district. Mr. Tripura was a returnee member of PCJSS as per the CHT Accord and is no more involved with the PCJSS. He was released on 16 January 2013 in the evening after signing a bond.

4. Kidnapping of headman of Bamagumti mouza Manu Lal Tripura

On 14 January 2013 at around 3:00 pm armed cadres of reformist group (Rupayan-Tanindra group) kidnapped headman of Bamagumti mouza Mr. Manu Lal Tripura (35) s/o late Mohanta Kumar tripura from his house of Bamagumti mouza under Matiranga upazila in Khagrachari district. He was released on 15 January 2013 in the evening after signing a bond. The terrorists accused him that he did not cooperate to the reformist group.

5. Torture of village head Sunil Bikash Tripura

On 14 January 2013 armed cadres of UPDF inhumanly beat a karbari (village head) Mr. Sunil Bikash Tripura (45) s/o late Atikai Tripura of Moidachara village of Matiranga upazila in Khagrachari district. UPDF terrorists accused him that he did not attend the meeting called by UPDF earlier.

6. Attempt to attack on villagers

On 14 January 2013 armed group of UPDF attempted to attack on Jumma villagers at Ramshu Bazaar area under Matiranga upazila in Khagrachari district alleging them not to attend the meeting called earlier by the UPDF. However, the villagers became agitated and beat UPDF cadres. Then and there the UPDF members fled the area.

7. Kidnapping of former UP Chairman Swapan Chakma

On 15 January 2013 at around 2:00 pm armed group of UPDF kidnapped a former chairman of Barmachari union Mr. Swapan Chakma from his house of Tongtulya Para under Lamxichari upazila in Khagrachari district. The allegation against Swapan Chakma was not known. He is yet to be released.

8. Kidnapping of 12 women from Suvalong for extortion

On 16 January 2013 at around 5:00 pm armed cadres of UPDF kidnapped at least 12 innocent Jumma women from Dighalchari village of Suvalong union under Barkal upazila in Rangamati district at gun point for not paying illegal tolls.

It is learnt that UPDF demanded taka 300,000 as tolls from Dighalchari Jumma villagers. But the villagers failed to pay the tolls as per demand of UPDF. As failing to pay tolls, the UPDF terrorists led by Barma Chakma and Aloran Chakma kidnapped at least 12 women from Dighalchari High Schoold when the women went there along with food for 40/45 members of UPDF. 8 women, out of 12 kidnapped, were identified as-

a) Mamata Rani Chakma (30) w/o Sumati Chakma

b) Lekhya Pudi Chakma (25) w/o Sumanta Chakma

c) Maya Sona Chakma (30) w/o Sunil Chakma

d) Nika Chakma (33) w/o Nitimoy Chakma

e) Nayana Chakma (22) w/o Jiban Chakma

f) Chandari Chakma (50) w/o Kengera Chakma

g) Sujata Chakma (20) d/o Kamalendu Chakma

h) Phularani Chakma (26) w/o Mangal Kanti Chakma

UPDF terrorists also seized 40 kg of rice forcefully from the house of Pakkha Chakma (70) of Dighalchari village. It is learnt that the women was released at night around 10.00 pm taking signature on a bond to pay taka 300,000 within 2 days. All the men of Dighalchari village left village fearing further attack of UPDF.

9. Firing on innocent passengers at Moratila area in Panchari

On 16 January 2013 armed elements of UPDF fired indiscriminately upon innocent passengers at Moratila area under Panchari upazila in Khagrachari district. In this armed assault, two motor-cycle passengers (one Jumma and one Bengali) were injured. They were identified as Mr. Dharmendu Chakma (28) s/o Gyana Bikash Chakma of Santal Para of Panchari and Shahadat Hossain (30) s/o Amir Hossain of upazila sadar of Panchari. They took shelter at local Jornatila BGB camp. Injured persons were admitted at Panchari upazila hospital.

10. Six villagers ordered to support UPDF activities, otherwise face severe consequences

On 16 January 2013 the following six villagers from Matiranga upazila were ordered to be present in the UPDF office at Giriphul under Khagrachari sadar in Khagrachari district. The UPDF cadres alleged against them that they were not cooperating to the UPDF. UPDF ordered to cooperate UPDF, otherwise they would face severe consequences. The villagers were identified as-

a) Mr. Nakulcha Tripura (35) s/o Prahlad Kumar Tripura of Chatragon Karbari Para of Amtali union;

b) Mr. Ekraka Tripura (50) of Surendra Headman Para of Barnal union;

c) Mr. Sam Kumar Tripura (40) s/o Hantacha Tripura of Surendra Headman Para of Barnal union;

d) Mr. Sunil Bikash Tripura (45) s/o late Atokai Tripura of Moidachara village of Amtali union;

e) Mr. Baru Kumar Tripura (40) s/o late Tinash Kumar Tripura of Ananta Kumar Karbari Para of Amtali union;

f) Mr. Montu Tripura (35) s/o Karasing Tripura of Toilafanf mouza under Barnal union.

 

11.        Indiscriminate extortion from Jumma villagers

Recently UPDF terrorists ordered every Jumma villager and service holders to pay tolls. They demanded tolls at the rate of taka 300, taka 500 and taka 1,000 from each family as per financial condition. The UPDF armed cadres beat and even kidnap if any family or village fails to pay tolls as per their demand.