Innocent villager arrested by army in Naniachar

chtnews.com
News No. 131/2009, September 19, 2009

An innocent Jumma villager has been arrested by army in Naniachar under Rangamati district.

Sources said a group of army personnel from Naniachar zone raided the house of Ananda Chakma (aged 36) in the village of Suridas Karbari Para at midnight last night and picked him up.

Mr. Chakma is a bamboo trader and has been vocal against land grabbing in his area. His father’s name is Manek Chandra Chakma.

In April this year, Jumma villagers destroyed a pineapple plantation which the settlers had created on lands grabbed from the Jummas, and he was one of those arrested for this action. He had to spend one night in Rangamati police station before being released.

After the latest arrest, the army put an LG (Light Gun) and some live bullets in his hand, and accused him of providing shelter to the members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), a regional party of the Jumma people campaigning for full autonomy for Chittagong Hill Tracts through peaceful and democratic means.

Mr. Chakma has been taken to Naniachar zone, and there is likelihood that he may be handed over to the police.

UPDF organiser in Rangamati Mr. Shanti Dev Chakma condemned the arrest and demanded his immediate and unconditional release.

He believes that the army arrested him at the behest of the settlers to silence his voice against illegal land grabbing.