Innocent villagers tortured & arrested in Panchari

chtnews.com
News No. 49/2008, March 16, 2008

Three innocent villagers were tortured and one of them was arrested during an overnight army raid in the village of Moni Karbari Para under Logang Union in Pancahri of Khagrachari district on 19 February, Tuesday.

Sources said a large contingent of Bangladesh Army personnel led by the Second-in-Command of Pancahri zone raided the village at around 2:30 a.m. The soldiers entered Jana Kallyan Bouddha Vihara, a Buddhist temple, and awoke Atul Chakma (25) s/o Laareiye Chakma of village Anil Karbari para. The soldiers beat him and threatened him with death.

They also broke into the house of Shashanka Chakma (37) s/o Duleiye Chakma in the village and asked him whether there was any terrorist in their village. When he said there was none, the army men beat him up.

Latter, both of victims were taken to the house of Arundas Chakma (24) s/o Bitto Chakma.

The soldiers rousted Arundas Chakma from his bed and tortured him severely. As he was being beaten, some of the soldiers climbed up the roof of the house and falsely claimed to have found a gun there.

Thereafter, the army personnel forced Arundas Chakma's father Bitto Chakma, Atul Chakma and Shashanka Chakma to sign a written statement saying Arundas Chakma was a terrorist and that a home-made gun had been recovered from his possession.

The army ended their raid with the arrest of Arundas Chakma, who was taken to Panchari army zone headquarters. Later he was handed over to Panchari police station and a false case was filed against him under Arms and Explosives Act.

Arundas Chakma's father and all others present during the army raid and search said the claim that the army had found a gun was a total lie. "We are poor people and on one in the village are involved in any unlawful activities" said Bitto Chakma adding that his son was completely innocent.

Mr. Chakma is now being held in Khagrachari jail.