Crime & Justice

CHT tense as 4 killed in violence

72 injured, several by gunshots; section 144 imposed in Khagrachhari, Rangamati towns; dozens of shops, houses vandalised
CHT tense as 4 killed in violence
People from indigenous communities demonstrate at the capital’s Shahbagh intersection yesterday protesting Thursday’s arson attacks in Khagrachhari’s Dighinala upazila. They demanded punishment for the attackers and probe into violations of human rights of the indigenous people in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Photo: Prabir Das

Four people were killed and at least 72 others injured as violence flared up in Rangamati town and Khagrachhari's Dighinala and Sadar upazilas yesterday.

The authorities imposed section 144, which restricts assembly of three or more people, on Khagrachhari and Rangamati towns.

In Dighinala, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Mamunur Rashid said at least 102 shops were burnt down. Of the shops, 72 belong to the indigenous people, and the rest to Bangalees.

No homes were attacked, he added.

However, locals said that on Thursday, several houses were set on fire in Dighinala, and residents fled their villages out of fear.

Yesterday, clashes between Bangalee and indigenous people took place in Rangamati town, spreading fear among locals.

The clashes began after a group of Bangalee people attacked a procession of the indigenous communities, witnesses said.

People of the town spent the day in panic amid tension between the communities.

Most of the markets and shops were closed in the two district towns and the roads were mostly empty.

Police and hospital sources in Khagrachhari identified three of the deceased as Dhananjoy Chakma, 50, Rubel Tripura, 25, and Junan Chakma, 20.

Hospital sources said Dhananjoy's body bore marks of blunt trauma. He died in Dighinala on Thursday night. The two others got shot in Khagrachhari Sadar upazila and died around 1:30am yesterday at Adhunik Sadar Hospital.

The Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) in a statement yesterday evening said three people were killed and several others injured during an exchange of fire as the army retaliated in self-defence when UPDF (main) members fired on an army patrol team in the Swanirvar area of Khagrachhari town on Thursday night.

"An army patrol team of Khagrachhari zone while taking a critically wounded patient [to safety] came under a gun attack by UPDF terrorists," the ISPR added.

Besides, an unidentified man aged around 20 was brought dead to Rangamati General Hospital. The man was hit in the head during a clash between indigenous and Bangalee people.

Ahsan Habib Palash, deputy inspector general at Chattogram Range Police, said, "Police and security forces are jointly patrolling the areas to keep the situation under control. Gunshots were heard in Khagrachhari town [on Thursday night]."

Adhunik Sadar Hospital's Resident Medical Officer Ripal Bappi Chakma said, "Nine injured individuals from Dighinala and Sadar upazilas are now admitted here. Four others were referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for better treatment."

Sources said the four were shot in the leg, waist and abdomen.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir last night in a statement said the people have been freed from the "Awami fascist regime", but the country remains unsafe due to violence.

"Perpetrators are desperate to destabilise the country. This is why people are being brutally attacked, killed, or seriously injured. The incidents of casualties in Khagrachhari and Rangamati are a cruel manifestation of this," he said.

Fakhrul also called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the attacks, urging authorities to restore peace and security.

RANGAMATI VIOLENCE

Indigenous people and students were marching yesterday morning in Rangamati town in protest of the attacks on properties of indigenous communities in Dighinala.

The clash began after a group of Bangalees attacked the procession at Bonorupa Bazar around 10:30am, witnesses said.

Both groups then engaged in fierce clashes hurling bricks at each other. Several shops, vehicles, and businesses were vandalised and set on fire in the neighbourhoods where indigenous communities are predominant.

The neighbourhoods include Kalindipur, Bijon Sarani, Dewan Para, and Tridip Nagar.

The CHT Regional Council office was also ransacked and set on fire. Vehicles parked on the premises were torched. Attackers also vandalised and looted Maitri Bihar, a temple at Bonorupa of the indigenous people, around 12:00pm.

Tritimoy Chakma, a member of the temple management committee, said a box in which people put money for monks was looted.

Sowkat Akbar, RMO at Rangamati General Hospital, said, "At least 54 people were taken there and a man aged around 20 was declared dead. Nineteen of the injured needed inpatient care while three others with serious injuries were sent to Chattogram."

Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Sahiduzzaman said, "Gunshots were heard in Panchhari and several other areas. Our teams are working to maintain law and order. Army, BGB and police are patrolling the streets."

The ISPR said that on Thursday a procession denouncing the killing of a man by a mob was passing through the Boalkhali market area when members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) attacked the protestors, firing 20-30 bullets. The enraged crowd then set fire to several shops in the Boalkhali market.

Clashes began after that, and the situation was brought under control when an army patrol arrived at the scene.

Following the incident, tension spread across Khagrachhari town, Dighinala, Panchhari, and nearby areas.

The ISPR urged everyone to maintain peace and harmony in the hill districts.

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CHT tense as 4 killed in violence

72 injured, several by gunshots; section 144 imposed in Khagrachhari, Rangamati towns; dozens of shops, houses vandalised
CHT tense as 4 killed in violence
People from indigenous communities demonstrate at the capital’s Shahbagh intersection yesterday protesting Thursday’s arson attacks in Khagrachhari’s Dighinala upazila. They demanded punishment for the attackers and probe into violations of human rights of the indigenous people in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Photo: Prabir Das

Four people were killed and at least 72 others injured as violence flared up in Rangamati town and Khagrachhari's Dighinala and Sadar upazilas yesterday.

The authorities imposed section 144, which restricts assembly of three or more people, on Khagrachhari and Rangamati towns.

In Dighinala, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Mamunur Rashid said at least 102 shops were burnt down. Of the shops, 72 belong to the indigenous people, and the rest to Bangalees.

No homes were attacked, he added.

However, locals said that on Thursday, several houses were set on fire in Dighinala, and residents fled their villages out of fear.

Yesterday, clashes between Bangalee and indigenous people took place in Rangamati town, spreading fear among locals.

The clashes began after a group of Bangalee people attacked a procession of the indigenous communities, witnesses said.

People of the town spent the day in panic amid tension between the communities.

Most of the markets and shops were closed in the two district towns and the roads were mostly empty.

Police and hospital sources in Khagrachhari identified three of the deceased as Dhananjoy Chakma, 50, Rubel Tripura, 25, and Junan Chakma, 20.

Hospital sources said Dhananjoy's body bore marks of blunt trauma. He died in Dighinala on Thursday night. The two others got shot in Khagrachhari Sadar upazila and died around 1:30am yesterday at Adhunik Sadar Hospital.

The Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) in a statement yesterday evening said three people were killed and several others injured during an exchange of fire as the army retaliated in self-defence when UPDF (main) members fired on an army patrol team in the Swanirvar area of Khagrachhari town on Thursday night.

"An army patrol team of Khagrachhari zone while taking a critically wounded patient [to safety] came under a gun attack by UPDF terrorists," the ISPR added.

Besides, an unidentified man aged around 20 was brought dead to Rangamati General Hospital. The man was hit in the head during a clash between indigenous and Bangalee people.

Ahsan Habib Palash, deputy inspector general at Chattogram Range Police, said, "Police and security forces are jointly patrolling the areas to keep the situation under control. Gunshots were heard in Khagrachhari town [on Thursday night]."

Adhunik Sadar Hospital's Resident Medical Officer Ripal Bappi Chakma said, "Nine injured individuals from Dighinala and Sadar upazilas are now admitted here. Four others were referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for better treatment."

Sources said the four were shot in the leg, waist and abdomen.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir last night in a statement said the people have been freed from the "Awami fascist regime", but the country remains unsafe due to violence.

"Perpetrators are desperate to destabilise the country. This is why people are being brutally attacked, killed, or seriously injured. The incidents of casualties in Khagrachhari and Rangamati are a cruel manifestation of this," he said.

Fakhrul also called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the attacks, urging authorities to restore peace and security.

RANGAMATI VIOLENCE

Indigenous people and students were marching yesterday morning in Rangamati town in protest of the attacks on properties of indigenous communities in Dighinala.

The clash began after a group of Bangalees attacked the procession at Bonorupa Bazar around 10:30am, witnesses said.

Both groups then engaged in fierce clashes hurling bricks at each other. Several shops, vehicles, and businesses were vandalised and set on fire in the neighbourhoods where indigenous communities are predominant.

The neighbourhoods include Kalindipur, Bijon Sarani, Dewan Para, and Tridip Nagar.

The CHT Regional Council office was also ransacked and set on fire. Vehicles parked on the premises were torched. Attackers also vandalised and looted Maitri Bihar, a temple at Bonorupa of the indigenous people, around 12:00pm.

Tritimoy Chakma, a member of the temple management committee, said a box in which people put money for monks was looted.

Sowkat Akbar, RMO at Rangamati General Hospital, said, "At least 54 people were taken there and a man aged around 20 was declared dead. Nineteen of the injured needed inpatient care while three others with serious injuries were sent to Chattogram."

Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Sahiduzzaman said, "Gunshots were heard in Panchhari and several other areas. Our teams are working to maintain law and order. Army, BGB and police are patrolling the streets."

The ISPR said that on Thursday a procession denouncing the killing of a man by a mob was passing through the Boalkhali market area when members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) attacked the protestors, firing 20-30 bullets. The enraged crowd then set fire to several shops in the Boalkhali market.

Clashes began after that, and the situation was brought under control when an army patrol arrived at the scene.

Following the incident, tension spread across Khagrachhari town, Dighinala, Panchhari, and nearby areas.

The ISPR urged everyone to maintain peace and harmony in the hill districts.

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