Army prevents villager from cutting trees

chtnews.com
News No. 38/2008, March 02, 2008

"There is instruction from high-ups. You Paharis (Jummas) are not permitted to cut trees here. If the settlers are unable to settle at Sarnath Arannya Kuthir, they will have to settle here." said Jasim Uddin, an army Subedar, from Mahalchari zone under Khagrachari district while preventing Prabhat Chandra Chakma from cutting trees in his own land in the village of Karallyachari.

This happened on 28 February 2008. Mr. Chakma, an incumbent member of Kiang-ghat Union Council, was cutting trees in his own land for construction of a house there.

After a few minutes, a group of army personnel led by Jasim Uddin rushed there, threatened him not to cut trees and ordered him to keep off his own land.

His land is located 1km north-west of Sarnath Arannya Kuthir, a Buddhist temple run by a disciple of Rev. Bana Bhante. Army and settlers have been making frantic attempts to capture the Kuthir's land since December last year.