JSS Reformist stage protest demo as Santu group attempts to disrupt

chtnews.com
News No. 60/2009, June 18, 2009
The Reformist faction of the Jana Samhati Samiti led by Rupayan Dewan, a member of the CHT Regional Council, held a protest rally at Paura Chattar in Rangamati town yesterday, as its rival faction led by Santu Larma made attempts to disrupt it.

The Reformists were protesting against attacks on its leaders and supporters by Larma-backed armed gangs.

The rally, attended by hundreds of its supporters, was addressed by ex-General Secretary of JSS Chandra Shekhor Chakma, Aungshuman Chakma, Sudhirgho Chakma and Ashin Chakma.

The speakers condemned the attack on their four supporters the previous day at Devashish Nogor by Satnu Larma-backed armed cadres, and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

Santu group’s terror tactics

Santu Larma made serious attempts to foil the Reformist’s rally yesterday. His men, with active support of the police and armed with stick and catapult, halted vehicles at Vedvedi and prevented people suspected of having sympathy with UPDF and Reformist JSS from entering the town.

Four innocent school boys from Kudukchari were injured in JSS attack in Vedvedi. They were going to Banarupa bazaar in the town.

Two of the injured – Monghol Dhan Chakma s/o Indra Bhushan Chakma of Kalabunnya village and Jibon Chakma s/o Gullo Chakma of Gado Chara village – were admitted to Rangamti Sadar Hospital with serious wounds.

However, according to hospital sources, the JSS men stormed the hospital and snatched them away by force and were believed to have been taken to the JSS office in Kalindipur.

The kidnapped boys are class ten students in Kudukchari High School.

Later in the day, Santu group members also attacked the houses of Reformist JSS member Advocate Shaktiman Chakma at T&T area and UPDF sympathizer Mintu Chakma at Kathaltoli.

They asked Mithu Chakma’s wife to tell her husband to surrender himself to Santu Larma within seven days and warned that in the event of failure they would kidnap her two children.

Members of Santu Group also exercised their muscle power in Premtoli, Trabel Adam and Banarupa, holding sticks and catapults, and searched for the Reformists.

Police support for the Santu group was palpable also at the venue of the rally where police protection was withdrawn well before the rally was to be ended.

This prompted the Reformists to cut short the list of the speakers and to end the rally abruptly.

Santu Larma supporters gathered together behind the police and were poised for attack