One Jumma youth tortured in Belaichari

On 23 September, a Jumma youth was arrested and subjected to inhuman torture during an army raid on the village of Down Nuopara in Belaichari, Rangamati district.

Reports said a group of army personnel led by Captain Tanvir of Merangchari camp conducted the raid at around noon on that day. The soldiers picked Hiro Chakma alias Ranjan (20) s/o Lakshmi Chakma up from their home, beat him up and then took him to the camp.

He was released the next day, on 24 September and went into hiding for fear of further harassment.

Our correspondent quoted his mother Shanti Devi Chakma, who herself was raped by army personnel last month, as saying that Hiro Chakma was taken to Dhupchari army camp and was subjected to inhuman physical torture.

"The army asked him about whereabouts of the UPDF members. He said he did not know except that the UPDF members come to our village once a week. After that, the army put a home-made gun into his hands and said 'will you help us arrest UPDF men, or you want us to send you to the Thana' (police station)? Hiro got scared, and agreed to help them arrest the UPDF members in the area. It is after this commitment that the army set him free." Shanti Devi Chakma was quoted as saying.

She said Hiro was so frightened that he would not stay in the village, and went into hiding, fearing further arrest. "He knows he will not be able to provide any information leading to the arrest of the UPDF men, and such a failure will certainly lead to his further arrest." she commented, adding "his father also got frightened and accompanied him."

Tanvir has earned notoriety for torturing innocent people after stripping them naked. In the last few months, he has made a number of raids into the village of Down Nuopara and other areas under Sakrachari Mouza No. 120 and tortured many innocent villagers.

On 4 August, Hiro Chakma's mother Shanti Devi Chakma (40) was gang-raped by a group of army soldiers during one such raid on the village. The same Captain Tanvir led the raid.

chtnews.com
News No. 152/2008, September 28, 2008