http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/dec/25/25122003cr.htm#A1
STAFF REPORTER WITH OUR CORRESPONDENT, KHAGRACHHARI
Dec 24: The armed cadres of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) today kidnapped five tribal people from a Burighat-bound engine boat in Khilchhari area under Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati district.
The kidnapping was in retaliation of the abduction of three other UPDF supporters by the Parbatta Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) cadres from the same area on December 19.
Those who were kidnapped by the PCJSS cadres were identified as Shashinath Chakma (35),Ubishko Chakma (30), Mintu Chakma (22), Anupom Chakma (20) and Milon Kanti Chakma (42).
Meanwhile, the kidnappers today freed 14 innocent tribal people, out of 20, from their captivity within 24 hours of the abduction, keeping the rest for use as ‘human shield’.
The kidnapping occurred early Tuesday reportedly by a gang of Parbatta Jana Sanghati Samity (PJJSS) from the Gargajjachhari village under sadar upazila blaming them for sheltering the anti-peace UPDF activists.
Those who were freed today are- Shushanta Dewan (22), Chirojoyti Chakma (35), Pritymoy Chakma (40), Gopal Chandra Chakma (43), Nishan Chakma (38), Shailendra Chakma (28), Sudarshan Chakma (40), Santoshmoy Chakma (31), Montu Chakma (25), Kalatukka Chakma (20), Shyamol Kanti Chakma (38), Wali Mohon Chakma (37), Kalabikas Dewan (28) and Jiten Chakma (30).
Those who are still in the captivity of the kidnappers are- Sangamin Dewan (60), father of Hill Women’s Federation Elira Dewan, headman Bhabatosh Dewan Karbari (50), Shantimoy Dewan (45), Snahmay Dewan (28), Babul Chakma (20) and Diganta Dewan (29).
Local people and police officials said that tension was prevailing in the area following the abduction and the district administration has beefed up police and Army patrol in the turbulent areas.
Bimal Kanti Dewan, a resident of Gargajjachhari village told the reporters that the miscreants had kidnapped two of his sons-Shushanta and Diganta, but the kidnappers later freed Shushanta. He is now worried about the fate of his another son.
Kalatukka, who fortunately returned from the captivity of the kidnappers and some residents of Gargajjchhari village said that a large number of miscreants wearing olive colour dresses (army dress) and equipped with deadly weapons appeared at the village in the small hours of Tuesday. They forcibly assembled them in a place and took them to the other bank of Chengi river. Their hands were tied with rope and taken to a deep forest at Kutubchhari area.
The kidnappers were also carrying wireless sets and modern and sophisticated arms and ammunition.
The kidnappers interrogated all the abducted persons and freed 14 of them as they assured them that they would not extend any kind of help to the UPDF members in future.
When contacted, Md Motiur Rahman, Superintendent of Police (SP) told The Independent over telephone that the army and police officials cordoned off a zone of the district suspecting that the kidnappers and the remaining abducted people may be there.
Quoting freed tribal people, the SP said that the supporters of PCJSS might have kidnapped them.
Meanwhile, the PCJSS in a statement condemned the kidnapping and denied their involvement in the abduction.
When contacted, Md Humayun Kabir, SP of Rangamati, confirmed the kidnapping and said that the military and police officials are trying to rescue the abducted persons.
Meanwhile, the Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) has reiterated its demand of appointing a Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of CHT Affairs and removal of the BNP lawmaker Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan from the post of the Chairman of the CHT Development Board by December 31.
The JSS gave this ultimatum at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on CHT affairs held in Dhaka yesterday. However, the Chairman of the Committee BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said the committee had no jurisdiction to meet these demands, according to BBC monitored in Dhaka.
The Jana Sanghati Samity is now waging movement to press for the proper implementation of the CHT Peace Treaty signed six years ago.
The Chairman of the Committee Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said the treaty would be implemented in phases.
"We are discussing ways of the implementation of the treaty phasewise. Two members of the Task Force have already been appointed. The land commission office has started work in the region. We will write to the Prime Minister about three other issues," Mannan added.
The leader of the 4-member JSS that attended the cabinet committee meeting, Goutam Kumar Chakma said they did not get any positive result about their demand for a Cabinet Ministry in the CHT Affairs and removal of the BNP lawmaker from the CHT Development Board.
Goutam Kumar Chakma warned that if Wadud Bhuiyan was not removed by December
31 they would launch movement Mannan Bhuiyan on the other hand said appointment
and removal of anyone depended on the Prime Minister and it was beyond the jurisdiction
of this committee.