May 12, 2005

Chittagong Hill Tracts: NLFT Rebels Kill Five Chakma Tribesmen


Chakma tribals were massacred in remote Jorendrapara and Madanjaypara villages under Raisyabari police station in Dhalai district by NLFT militants
Untitled Document In the night of 10-11 May, five Chakma tribals were massacred in remote Jorendrapara and Madanjaypara villages under Raisyabari police station in Dhalai district by NLFT militants.

Five persons, including two women, sustained serious bullet injuries. They set 20 houses on fire. Superintendent of police (Dhalai), Arindam Nath, having received prior information, rushed to the spot and launched combing operations. Unfortunately, the militants crossed the border into Bangladesh.

According to the police, the killing was ‘retaliatory’ in nature. The majority Chakma population of the village refused to pay the ‘taxes’ demanded by National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and lynched the ‘tax-collector’ of the group in February this year.

According to a statement made by chief minister Manik Sarkar in the Assembly today, the incident occurred at midnight. An NLFT hit squad, comprising 15 militants, stormed Jorendrapara and Madanjaypara villages simultaneously and set five thatched houses on fire in Jorendrapara village.

As the terror-stricken people rushed out of their burning huts, the NLFT hit squad opened fire on the fleeing villagers. Ashok Kumar Chakma (40), Swapanjay Chakma (28), Bakrabahu Chakma (25), Sushanta Chakma (18) and Arogya Chakma (18), were killed on the spot. The group that attacked the neighbouring Madanjaypara village did not open fire but set ablaze 15 Chakma huts. In his statement, the chief minister further said NLFT has a base camp at Laifangtuichha in Mayani reserve forest in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The slain Arogya Chakma had been called into the NLFT base and was asked to collect ‘tax’, but the youth refused, saying no Chakma would pay ‘tax’ to the NLFT.

On January 8, Annaram Chakma’s decomposed body was recovered by police from Gaynama jungle under Chhawmanu police station. He was kidnapped and killed in October last year because he could not pay the ransom demanded by the NLFT.

In August last year, 13 Chakma women had been gangraped by NLFT militants in remote Padmamohanpara village under Chhawmanu police station. The chief minister condemned the killings and promised immediate action.

Twenty-nine persons, including security personnel, have been killed so far in militancy-related incidents in the area.

Source: The Telegraph India