http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/05/09/d40509012020.htm


The Daily Star, Vol. 4 Num 334
Sun. May 09, 2004

Fifty hurt as rivals clash in Bandarban


Our Correspondent, Bandarban

At least 50 people including former guerrilla leader Sadhuram Tripura
were injured in a series of clashes between Bangalees and indigenous
people here yesterday.
The clashes took place during the dawn-to-dusk hartal in the three
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts, called by Parbatya Chattagram
Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) to press for full implementation of the CHT
peace accord and some other demands.
The injured, mostly from both the sides, also includes some policemen
and passers by. Five of them were admitted to the district hospital.
Witnesses said the clashes followed a tussle between businessmen and
PCJSS activists over the closure of a shop at the main market in the
district town at about 11:00am.
PCJSS leaders alleged Bangalee Chhatra Parishad (BCP) activists pelted
stones at pro-hartal pickets from inside the shop, which injured some of
their activists.
But BCP leaders said PCJSS activists attacked hotels and restaurants
that also left a number of BCP workers injured. This enraged BCP
activists and they attacked Pro-hartal pickets.
The clashes later spread to adjoining areas with both the sides pelting
brickbats and stones at each other.
In the afternoon, the district administration initiated a meeting
between the two sides.
The PCJSS will stage a demonstration and hold a rally here today in
demand for arrest and punishment of the BCP for what it said is attacks
on its activists.