The Daily Star, Vol. 5 Num 68
Tue. August 03, 2004
UNB, Rangamati
At least 20 people were injured in clashes between tribal people and
settlers in and around Rangamati University College yesterday.
Police said the trouble begun in the morning when some Bangalee students
prevented tribal students from taking ganja in a room of the college.
The clash later spread in the adjacent areas, leaving 20 people injured.
Bangalee Chhatra Parisad leaders Shahadat Hossain, Saidur Rahman, Imon
and Dipu are among the injured.
Two of the injured were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital
in critical condition.
Later, the angry tribal people went on the rampage, damaging
auto-rickshaws, buses and trucks in the area, disrupting traffic.
On information, army personnel rushed to the spot and brought the
situation under control.
Note by Japan CHT Committee: a report in Prothom Alo that it was cigarettes,
not ganja, that the indigenous students were stopped from smoking.