Six innocent villagers tortured in Sajek

chtnews.com
News No. 71/2009, June 24, 2009
Six innocent Jummas were tortured in Sajek in Rangamati district during an army raid on a village.

Sources said on 20 June, at 2pm a group of Bangladesh Army soldiers from Baghaihat zone carried out a surprise raid into the village of MSF Para.

The soldiers surrounded the village and began searching for what they said “terrorists”. Finding no ‘terrorist’, the soldiers picked up 6 innocent villagers, took them to the camp and tortured them severely.

They army beat them with stick and gave electric shocks in their bodies.

Five of the torture victims have been identified as Ballya Chakma, 50, of village MSF Para; Chuchyang Naga Chakma, 40, of Bhuachari; Jagadish Chakma, 40, of Karengatoli; Amar Dhan Chakma, 45, of Nakshachari; Kaladhan Chakma, 50, of Gangaram Dore.

The victim whose name could not be known is a friend of Jagadish Chakma, himself a torture victim. Both of them are day labourers.

Ballya Chakma was picked up from his home, while Chuchyang Naga Chakma was arrested while he was on his way to Baghaihat bazaar.

Jagadish Chakma and his friend were preparing to float bundles of bamboo down the river Kachalong to be carried to Kaptai for Karnaphuli Paper Mill, while the army arrested them.

The army arrested Amar Dhan Chakma while he was on his way to Baghaichari Upazila headquarters to draw UNDP’s Village Development Project money from a bank.

Kaladhan Chakma was arrested from his home in Gangaram Dore.

The army released Ballya Chakma, Chuchyang Naga Chakma, Jagadish Chakma and his friend in the evening, the same day, while the rest two were set free the following day.

Baghaihat zone is notorious for carrying out raids, torture and arrest of innocent villagers.

The army takes these repressive measures as part of a general plan to capture land in the area.

In April last year, the settlers burned down hundreds of Jumma houses in ten villages and made a series of attempts to grab land belonging to the Jumma people.

Following the April incident, many human rights organisaitons including International CHT Commission have visited the area. Yet, the conditions have not improved.

Close on the heels of the CHT Commission’s visit last year, the settlers launched further attacks and killed one Ladu Moni Chakma in the most brutal fashion.

A few days ago, the army made a number of arrests in connection with the alleged abduction and murder of a Bengali settler.

Baghaihat zone, under Khagrachari brigade, is commanded by Lt. Col. Anisuzzaman of 14 Bir.