Prothom Alo, 27 July 2003

Clashes between the UPDF and JSS leave three dead and two injured:

It has been informed that there were a few incidences of clash in the last few days between the JSS and UPDF armed cadres in Kala Pahar (Black Hill) areas under Naniachar Upzila of Rangamati district. Taking control or supremacy over the area is known to be reason of conflict. Three persons were killed out of these clashes and two were injured seriously. The identity of the deceased are: Shantimoy Chakma (45), son of Alchya Chakma, village- Jurappa-para; Utpal Chakma (40), son of Bilash Chakma, village- Larma para, Naniachar and Adikanta Chakma. Among the bullet injured were Milan Chakma (UPDF cadre) and Sumati Ranjan Chakma (JSS cadre). Though the political group affiliation of the dead persons was not known but it is suspected that they belonged to the UPDF group.

At least two clashes between the JSS and UPFD armed cadres were reported in the areas near Jurappa para and Lama para close to the kala pahar (Black hills) in last Friday. After the incident of gun-fight the military visited the area and found the dead bodies and also captured both the injured persons.

But the local villagers reported that the number of causalities could be much more than this as the army did not visited the remote areas where the fighting is reported to be more intensive.

(Summarized/translated by Japan CHT Committee)