Daily Star

18 hurt as settlers, tribal people clash in Khagrachhari

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari [The Daily Star, 25 November 2001]

At least 18 people, including a UP chairman, were injured as settlers and
tribal people clashed at Lemuchhari under Mahalchhari upazila yesterday
afternoon.

The injured include Archimedes Chakma, chairman of Sadar union parishad and
also the negotiator between security personnel and abductors of three
foreigners. The foreigners were abducted by tribal miscreants from Rangamati
early this year.

Of the injured people, three were admitted to Rangamati Hospital, seven to
Chagrachhari Hospital and eight others to local health complex.
Police said the clash followed the attempt by settlers of Chongrachhari
Guchhagram to build a house on a disputed land at Lemuchhari on Friday.
Police foiled the attempt.

A group of settlers attacked Archimedes Chakma near Lemuchhari club at
around noon yesterday while he was returning home after attending a meeting
arranged to solve the land dispute.

As soon as the news of attack on the UP chairman spread among the tribal
people, they rushed to the spot and locked in a clash with the settlers.

A joint meeting of local administration, leaders of tribal and settlers was
going on at Mahalchhari UNO (Upazilla Nirbahi Office) office to solve the
issue till filing of this report at 7 pm yesterday.