BREAKING NEWS! BREAKING NEWS!
Massive communal attack on Jumma villages by military forces and Bengali settlers in Baghaihat area in Rangamati
A. Introduction:
On 19-20 February 2010 massive communal attack on Jumma villages was made by military forces and Bengali settlers at Baghaihat area of Sajek union under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati district. It is reported that at 8 Jumma villagers including a woman were killed and 25 Jumma villagers wounded in this attack. It is learnt that around 200 houses of Jumma villagers including Buddhist temple and church were completely burnt into ashes.
B. Beginning of the incident
On 19 February 2010 afternoon a group Bengali settlers went to the Gangaran Duar area and put pillars on the land of indigenous Jumma villagers for construction of house there. At that time, the Jumma villagers protested and opposed the Bengali settlers.
Again at night around 8.30 pm hundreds of Bengali settlers led by leaders of so-called Sama Odhikar Andolon under full protection by a group of army from Baghaihat zone of 8 Bir Bengal gathered at Gangaram Duar area and started to set fire on the houses of Jumma villages. At that time, at least 35 houses including 7 shops, a church and a UNDP-run village centre, in three Jumma villages of Gangaram Duar, Chaminichara and Baluchara were burnt down. Jumma villagers alleged that Bengali settlers also looted the valuables while they were burning the houses. The villagers fled into the jungle when the attack took place.
After the first attack, the villagers returned to their villages the next morning and gathered in Gangaram to protest it. The Bengali settlers returned in the morning on 20 February 2010 equipped with sharp weapons, machetes and sticks.
Further, at around 10.00 am on 20 February 2010 tension mounted throughout the area while the army and Bengali settlers ordered the Jumma villagers to leave the area, but they refused to comply. At around 10.00 am the army started to beat the Jumma indiscriminately. One Jumma villager chopped an army named Rezaul while beating him brutally and then the army fired leaving him spot dead. Following this, the army opened fire into the Jumma villagers indiscriminately without any sort of provocation, leaving at least 8 dead and 25 wounded. They army also arrested three persons from there.
Since the start of firing, Bengali settlers with the help of army set fire on Jumma houses at Hajachhara, Guchchha Gram, Balughat, Simanachhara, Baipaichhara, Suranganala and Kerekkaba villages. It is reported that at least another 160 houses were torched at that time. Bengali settlers also burnt Banani Bana Vihar, a Buddhist temple. The monk of the vihara Ven. Purnabas Bhikkhu, fled the temple without taking meal. One statue of Buddha was looted and another one which was given by Thai government was looted. As they continued the arson attacks, the indigenous community began resisting them. During this resistance, six indigenous persons were injured.
It is still not clear how many Jumma villagers were killed in the attacks. However, five of the dead were identified. They are-
1) Ms. Buddhabati Chakma (34) w/o Uttam Chakma of Baghaihat Gucchagram;
2) Mr. Laxmi Bijoy Chakma (30) s/o unknown of Golakmachara;
3) Mr. Liton Chakma (35) s/o Karunamoy Chakma of Baibachara;
4) Mr. Bana Shanti Chakma (28) s/o unknown of Gangaram Duar and
5) Mr. Nutunjoy Chakma (28) s/o unknown of Golakmachara.
Some of the injured are-
1) Shanta Shil Chakma, s/o Dhanaram Chakma of Chaminichara;
2) Mrittunjoy Chakma, s/o unknown of Jarulchari;
3) Sushil Jibon Chakma (32), s/o Kinamani Chakma of Chaminichara;
4) Amar Jiban Chakma (30), s/o Majiban Chakma of B-Block of Bangaltali;
5) Mr. Nibesh Chakma (35), s/o unknown of Chaminichara;
6) Mr. Dari Chakma (40) s/o unknown of Nangalmara;
7) Jitendra Chakma (35), s/o unknown of Chaminichara
8) Mr. Prem Lal Chakma (26) s/o unknown of Chaminichara.
It is learnt that the dead body of Buddhabati Chakma was brought at Baghaichari police station for postmortem. But dead bodies of other deceased are yet to be recovered. On 20 February 2010 afternoon the army imposed section 144 in the area to prevent Jumma villagers from taking out protest demonstrations.
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PCJSS
(Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti)
Kalyanpur, Rangamati-450000, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Tel+Fax: +880-351-61248
E-mail: pcjss.org@gmail.com, pcjss@hotmail.com
Website: pcjss-cht.org
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