Bangladesh-web.com
Sunday August 08 2004 15:29:32 PM BDT
Khagrachhari, August 7 :The troops and police on Saturday foiled a
non-stop road blockade programme called by the United People's
Democratic Front in protest against the arrest of seven leaders of the
Pahari Chhatra Parishad.
The front activists blockaded different places on
Mohalchhari-Khagrachhari and Panchhari-Khagrachhari roads but the army
and police cleared the roads and intensified their petrol to make way to
traffic.
The security forces arrested the seven leaders, including Pahari Chhatra
Parishad president Mithun Chakma and vice president Rupan Chakma, from
Swanirbhar Bazar in the Khagrachhari town on Friday while they were
holding a rally in protest against the arrest of their two activists.
The security forces said they arrested the two with arms, ammunition and
uniforms following a gunfight at Gorgajjachhari. The seven, arrested on
Friday, were taken to the court custody for interrogation.
The UPDF, in a news release on Saturday, said no fight took place at
Gorgajjachhari Thursday night. "A neutral investigation is needed to
unearth the truth," the release, signed by Ripon Chakma, said.
The Pahari Chhatra Parishad brought out a procession and held a rally at
Muktangan in the capital in protest against the arrest of their leaders.
Jatiya Mukti Council president Badruddin Umar and secretary Faizul
Hakim, in a statement, condemned the arrest of the PCP leaders and
demanded their release.