The Daily Star, Vol. 5 Num 116
Sat. September 18, 2004
Our Correspondent, Rangamati
About 300 people of 69 indigenous families from seven villages in
Kawkhali upazila have taken refuge at a community centre at Ghagra on
Rangamati-Chittagong highway as armed members of the United People's
Democratic Front (UPDF) that opposes the CHT peace accord allegedly went
on the rampage in the villages creating panic among people.
Besides, 500 families have taken shelter in nearby jungles because of
continued threats by the armed men, said the refugees at the community
centre.
On August 30, UPDF men raided the remote villages, killed one person,
abducted two, looted valuables from houses, torched five houses and
demanded toll from the villagers. They threatened the villagers with
dire consequences if they raised their voice against them.
The villages are Chhotodolupara, Borodolupara, Chelachhara, Betchhari,
Fittipara, Boroitoli and Kolabunia under Fatikchhari union of Kawkhali
upazila.
Locals said the UPDF men were accompanied by some people with long beard
believed to be linked to underground militants, and some members of
notorious chairman Kashem bahini have long been roaming the hilly
villages close to Chittagong's Fatikchhari upazila. Kashem is the prime
suspect in the sensational businessman Jamal Uddin (Chittagong)
abduction case.
UPDF men Royal Marma, Topan Jyoti Chakma, Amor Bikash, Milon Chakma
Sugota, Robi Chandra Chakma, Vaskor Chakma and Shamir Bikash Tanchangya
led the repression on the villagers, people sheltered at Ghagra alleged.
Kalonjoy Chakma, a village doctor of Dolupara, said the UPDF men have
become violent after they faced a strong encounter from pro-peace accord
armed men about a month back. "Since then, they (UPDF men) are forcing
villagers to back them with money and other necessary things," he told
newsmen.
UPDF men killed Chikon Chan Chakma, 65, of Dolupara and abducted two
others-- Singha Moni Chakma, 30 and Shappya Chakma, 35. The two were yet
to be recovered, said village headman Patindralal Chakma and Budhamoni
Karbery.
"Firefight between armed men of both the sides -- pro and anti-peace
accord-- goes on intermittently till now," said Bono Kumar Chakma and
Shushil Chakma, former member of Fatikchhari Union Parishad, who are
among people at the community centre.
When contacted yesterday, Additional Superintendent of Police (crime)
Khosrul Haque admitted the rampage in the villages and said he has sent
the officer-in- charge of Kawkhali Police Station to Ghagra community
centre but he is yet to return.
On Thursday, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Kawkhali visited the
victims, officials said.
Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Jafar Ahmed Khan last night told The
Daily Star he has instructed the UNO to make a list of the affected
families to provide them relief immediately.
"Since the problem is political, I have asked a senior member of the
Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, Ushaton Talukdar, to look into
the matter."
<http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/09/18/d4091801044p.htm> Picture
Members of 69 indigenous families sit helplessly at a shelter at Ghagra
on the Rangamati-Chittagong Highway after alleged armed operatives of
the United People's Democratic Front went on the rampage in their
villages recently. PHOTO: STAR