Army raids houses in Laxmichari

chtnews.com
News No. 144/2009, October 9, 2009

Soldiers led by Laxmichari zone commander Lt. Col. Shariful Islam raided and searched four houses in Laxmichari town last night, Hill Women’s Federation leaders told chtnews.com.

“The aim of the search is not to find firearms or terrorists, but to intimidate us because the army knows that we have come to the town to perform Shraddhanustan (rituals performed in memory of a deceased) for UPDF leader Rui Khoi Marma.” Rina Dewan, a prominent leader of the HWF, said.

The houses searched belong to Shanti Brata Chakma, Kalendra Chakma, Suniti Bikash Chakma and Sukomol Dewan (Rina Dewan’s Father).

The soldiers carried out the search at around 8:30pm in the name of searching for “four armed terrorists who had come to the town along with Rina Dewan.”

Earlier, the soldiers went to Kushinagar Bana Vihar and asked Dhana Mala Chakma, Rina Dewan’s mother, whether her daughter had come to the house.

Mrs. Dhana Mala and her sister-in-law Pushpa Rani Chakma were attending to their religious duties when the soldiers visited the temple.

UPDF will organise a mass gathering in Laxmichari town on 12 October in commemoration of Rui Khoi Marma, party sources said.