http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/03/08/d4030801055.htm
The Daily Star, Vol. 4 Num 277
Mon. March 08, 2004
Our Correspondent, Rangamati
Operatives allegedly of an anti-CHT peace accord group gunned down two
members of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), abducted
eight others and burnt a house in a five-hour raid on a remote village
in Rangamati Saturday night.
The PCJSS, a pro-CHT peace accord platform of hill people, in a press
release yesterday blamed its rival United People's Democratic Front
(UPDF) for the violence.
A 25-man strong UPDF gang led by Shantidev Chakma and Tapon Jyoti Chakma
stormed Kurollyamura village in Naniarchar upazila at around 8:00pm.
The attackers reportedly in search of PCJSS activists found Chitra Kumar
Chakma, 27, and Judhamoni Chakma, 25, shot them point blank and left
them dead instantly.
Chitra Kumar, son of Kamala Kanto Chakma and former member of
Shantibahini, PCJSS's armed wing, returned to normal life after
surrendering arms with the peace deal signed on December 2, 1997.
While leaving the village at 1:00am Sunday, the assault team set fire to
a house and abducted eight villagers at gunpoint.
Seven of the captives are Promud Kumar Karbary, 50, Biraj Moni Chakma,
35, Kanta Chakma, 25, Probhat Kumar Chakma, 52, Shadhon Moni Chakma, 45,
Sumoti Ronjon Chakma, 33, and Kangsa Chakma, 65. The identity of the
eighth abducted villager could not be known immediately.
The PCJSS and UPDF claimed to have lost 300 members in rival clashes
since 1997.
Protesting the rampage, Rangamati district unit of PCJSS took out a
procession in the district headquarters yesterday evening, followed by a
rally at Rajbari.
Presiding over the 20-minute rally, PCJSS Rangamati district unit
President Gunendu Bikash Chakma alleged a section of the government was
guiding and patronising the UPDF, although it was demanding full
autonomy of the CHT (Chittagong Hill Tracts).
"But what does the government prefer, autonomy of the CHT or
implementation of the peace accord?" he wondered.
PCJSS central leader Jolly Mong, district unit Secretary Palash Khisa
and Paharhi Chhatra Parishad leader Uzzal Chakma also spoke at the
rally.
The PCJSS release says local police recovered the bodies.
Rangamati Superintendent of Police Humayun Kabir said he was ignorant of
the incident, having no contact with Naniarchar Police Station because
of radio network breakdown.