The Independent, December 06 2003 Saturday
http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/dec/06/06122003cr.htm#A3
OUR CORRESPONDENT, KHAGRACHHARI
Dec 5: A leader of pro-peace accord Parbattya Chhattagram Jana Sanghati
Samity was shot dead allegedly by armed terrorists of hardline United
People's Democratic Front (UPDF) in Manikka Para area under Panchhari
upazila of the district on Thursday night.
The victim was identified as Pancha Chakma alias Kiron (45), son of
Rejam Chakma Nitu. The apparent revenge killing occurred within 48 hours
of the murder UPDF leader Gyaneswar Chakma (31) on December 2.
Sources said masked gunmen of UPDF numbering 5-6 stormed the victim's
when he was taking the warmth of a fire at around 9.40 pm last night and
shot him dead.
The miscreants also threatened the members of the victim's family.
Neighbours said the UPDF arms cadres fired in the air when they were
leaving the spot.
The Panchhari thana police rushed to the spot on hearing the incident
and recovered the body of the victim. The body was sent to Khagrachhari
sadar hospital for autopsy this morning.
UPDF held rallies and mass contacts to mobilise support for their
programme while JSS has started a counter publicity campaign. The two
rival groups locked in a gunfight at Sindukchhari Hajachhara under
Mahalchhari upazila today (Friday). About 200 rounds of shot were
exchanged during the one-hour long gun fight. The villagers fled their
homes in panic during the fighting.
Meanwhile the main tribal organisation JSS observed a day-long
road-blocked programme on the Khagrachhari-Panchhari road today in
protest of the killing. The JSS demanded immediate arrest of the
miscreants involved in yesterday's killing.
On the other hand UPDF in a statement denied their involvement in the
murder of the JSS leader. They alleged that the killing was a result of
the intra-party conflict in JSS.
UPDF demanded immediate arrest of the miscreants responsible for the
killing of Pancha Kumar Chakma Kiron. No case was filed till filing of
this report.
UPDF has called a dawn-to-dusk road blockade tomorrow (Saturday) to
press home its demand for arrest and exemplary punishment of the
terrorists who shot dead their leader Gyaneswar Chakma.
JSS has called a hartal in the hill districts on December 8 to press
home its demand for implementation of the CHT peace agreement and
removal of Wadud Bhuiyan MP from the chairmanship of Parbattya
Chhattagram Unnayan Board.