Two Jummas arrested, another two tortured in Rajstali

chtnews.com
News No. 128/2008, July 24, 2008

Two innocent Jumma villagers have been arrested and another two subjected to physical torture in Rajstali Upazila of Rangamati district on charges of providing help to the members of the United People's Democratic Front. UPDF is a political party of the Jumma people campaigning for full autonomy for the Chittagong Hill Tracts region through peaceful and democratic means.

Sources said army personnel from Rajstali Sadar camp on 19 July arrested Kanta Lal Tonchongya, 38, s/o Chakyo Bap of village Punorbashon Para No. 3 and Charu Kumar Tonchongya, 35, s/o Surjo Sen Tonchongya of village Mine Para on charges of providing food and shelter to the UPDF members. They were arrested from their respective homes in Ghilachari Union at around 10 pm.

Both of them were taken to the camp and tortured severely. Thereafter, the army handed them over to the Rajstali police station.

In another incident, on 21 July, army personnel raided the village of Mine Para under Ghilachari Union in Rajstali Upazila (sub-district) and tortured two Jummas on charges of providing help and shelter to the UPDF activists.

The victims have been identified as Rashikyo Tonchongya, 28, and Kalaya Tonchongya, 27.