Tension prevails in hill dist

from Our Correspondent

KHAGRACHHARI, Nov 28: Five more activists of the Parbattya Chattragram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) were kidnapped from Lakhsmi Chari and Mahal Chari upazilas of the district in the early hours of today, according to sources at the security forces.

Five PCJSS members were kidnapped on Tuesday from Purba Chailtali and Bardona Para of the two upazilas.

The PCJSS blamed the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) for the incident. The UPDF, however, had denied any responsibility for the kidnapping incidents.

Meanwhile, one Provat Kumar Chakma, a school teacher, belonging to the UPDF was kidnapped allegedly by PCJSS people from Lakhsmi Chari. One Hemanta Chatka of the same organisation was kidnapped from the same place on Tuesday night.

A tense situation has been prevailing in the hill district following the kidnapping of the PCJSS members.

According to police reports, a total of 11 people belonging to the two rival organisations were kidnapped from the two upazilas.

The PCJSS has lodged complaint with the local thana against UPDF leaders in this connection.

Police Super said that the security measures in the troubled areas had been beefed up and the security forces started rescue operation.

Deaths of 2 female students in road mishap spark violence at Rangamati

Our Correspondent, Rangamati

Agitated students of Rangamati Government College put up barricades on Chittagong-Rangamati highway, set ablaze vehicles and clashed with police after two fellow female students were killed and three persons injured in a road accident in Rajbari area in the town in the morning.

Police charged batons and fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. Ten people including some students were injured.

Nipa Dewan, 21, and Kulsri Dewan Baishakhi, 21, died on the spot when a bus hit the autorickshaw they were travelling.

Of the injured, Sukhendu Tanchayanga was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. The two others --Jamal Uddin and Ziban Chakma -- were admitted to Rangamati General Hospital, police said. The injured were also passengers of the autorickshaw.

Witnesses said the autorickshaw collided with the bus coming from Chittagong.

As the news spread, hundreds of students came out of the college and put up barricades on the road. They torched three vehicles and damaged dozens of others. They also brought out a protest procession.

Police then went into action, charging batons and firing shots, the witnesses said. But none was injured at this stage.

As the violence spilled over to a nearby saw mill area with students clashing with workers, police fired at least 10 tear gas shells, leaving 10 people including some students injured and creating panic in the whole area.

The deputy commissioner of Rangamati along with some army personnel rushed to the spot and assured the students and workers of proper investigation into the incident.

The situation then calmed down and road communication resumed in the afternoon.

An inquiry committee headed by Additional District Magistrate Karim Gazi has been formed to prove the incident, official sources said.