The Independent, 29 August 2003
http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/aug/29/29082003cr.htm#A1
STAFF REPORTER
Tension mounted in Khagrachhari hill district following fresh clashes and arson involving Bengali settlers and the tribesmen on Thursday.
Abduction of Bengali trader Rupam Mahajan allegedly by tribal extremists sparked off violence in Mahalchhari on Wednesday in which scores of houses were torched and a former UP Chairman Binod Bihari Khisa was shot dead. Two tribal girls were also kidnapped allegedly by the Bengalis at Mahalchhari on Wednesday.
Our Khagrachari correspondent informs 48 persons were arrested on Thursday in connection with Wednesday’s incident. Four more tribal villages in Mahalchhari came under attack in fresh troubles on Thursday.
About 20 people were injured in Mahalchhari and 28 others in Lebuchhari in clashes on Thursday.
Meanwhile hardline tribal outfit, United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) has enforced a 72-hour road blockade programme and the first day of the three-day long programme was observed yesterday.
Leader of UPDF Prasit Bikash Khisa in a press statement yesterday condemned attacks on unarmed people, murder of a tribesman, kidnapping of two hill girls and torching of houses including a Buddhist temple and a public library on Wednesday.
Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students’ Council (CHTHSC) yesterday in a separate press statement condemned killing of Binod Bihari Khisa and other atrocities committed by miscreants in the district.
Our Khagrachhari correspondent reported, the Army so far distributed Taka 2000 to each of the affected 139 families and supplied cooked food to the affected tribesmen.
The whereabouts of the Bengali trader Rupam Mahajan and two kidnapped tribal girls Pai Ana Thang (12) and Ma Ma Chi (15), however, could not be known till writing of this report Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Nidarshan Khisa, son of late Binod Bihari Khisa, was injured in Thursday’s clash and transferred to the Chittagong Medical College hospital.
Late Binod Bihari Khisa was cremated yesterday at his residence at Babupara
of Mahalchhari. Former MP Upendra Lal Chakma, noted Chakma intellectual Ananta
Bihari Khisa and local Municipality Chairman Mong Kay Chowdhury were present
at the funeral.