Six Jummas arrested in Sajek

chtnews.com
News No. 43/2009, May 27, 2009

At least six Jumma villagers have been arrested by army since 10 May over alleged involvement in the killing of two Bengali settlers in Sajek, sources said.

On the night of 10 May, a group of army personnel from Baghaihat zone arrested two Jummas from their houses. Dipayan Chakma age 25 s/o Anil Baran Chakma was arrested from Gattowatuli village while Priya Moy Chakma age 27 s/o Bijoy Karbari from his village Baibachara.

On the night of 21 May, Baghaihat army raided the village of Nakshasuri and arrested Subarna Chakma age 35 s/o Shubha Mohan Chakma.

On 22 May, Mao Satung Chakma s/o Phidikke Chakma was arrested from his village Nangal Mara.

On 25 May, the army arrested Bar Kana Chakma age 30 s/o Aarech Mohan Chakma from Samitry Chara village.

On 26 May, Arun Shanti Chakma age 14 s/o Hiran Chakma Sajek was arrested from his house in Sajek.

A villager from Sajek told chtnews.com that the army was carrying out raids and making arrests of innocent villagers almost daily. “We live in constant fear of arrest” he said requesting anonymity.

On 6 May two settlers were allegedly kidnapped from a tea shop at Gangaram Mukh in Sajek. Their dead bodies were said to have been recovered from the same area four days later on 9 May in mysterious condition.

The army blamed the Jummas for the incident but a Jumma teacher denied the allegation and said it was a deliberate plan of the army and the settlers to create communal tension and capture Jumma’s land of the area.

“The settlers have been trying to find pretexts to launch fresh communal attacks on our villages so that they can grab our lands.” he said requesting anonymity for security reasons.