Laxmichari torture victims threatened after meeting Khagrachari MP

chtnews.com
News No. 136/2009, September 27, 2009

Lakxmichari Zone Commander Lt. Col. Shairf has threatened his torture victims with dire consequences after they had met with Jotindra Lal Tripura MP.

In an interview with chtnews.com, Ratan Bindu Chakma, one of the torture victims, said they had narrated the incident of 25 September to the MP when he came to visit Laxmichari yesterday, Saturday.

After he had left, the zone commander ordered them to appear at the camp at about 1:30pm.

“Complying with his order, Paipruchai and I went to the Zone; other victims were not at home, and so they did not go. The Zone commander also called a Bengalee to the camp. He had appeared in the camp before us.” he said.

“The Zone commander asked him (the Bengalee) several questions such as ‘who have met with the MP’, ‘what they have told him’ etc.

“When we arrived at the Zone, Captain Himel wanted to know why we had met with the MP and told him about yesterday’s incident.

“He told us ‘you will get into troubles if you go too far. We will not spare you. You are genuine members of the UPDF, and now you are pretending to be members of Awami League and have brought the MP here.”

Ratan Bidu said the Zone Commander appeared a few minutes later and began to threaten them.

He said the commander had asked them why they had told Mr. MP about yesterday’s incident.

He added: “The commander said ‘I did not torture you, and yet why did you bring up false allegations (against me)?’”

“Then I told him that we had told him (MP) what is true. When you brought me here in broad day light, handcuffed and blindfolded, all could see it. After that, you tortured me with electric shocks. These are not lies.

“The Zone commander then repeated his question in a threatening voice: ‘Did I torture you?’ This time we were forced to tell him: ‘No sir, you did not torture us.’

“After that, the Zone commander phoned the Upazila Chairman and told him ‘your people have come to me and said they were not beaten up.’

Ratan Bidu said they had no other alternatives than to retract their statements under such circumstances.

He further said “the zone commander had emphatically told us ‘if necessary I will leave Laxmichari, but before I leave I will create a different situation.’”

However, the commander did not say what he meant by ‘different situation’.

He ordered all his torture victims to appear at his camp again at 10am today, 27 September.

“We are really very scared to meet him again. He may threaten us again or put further conditions” Ratan Bidu said.

“When I was taken to the Zone on the 25th, I was asked to help them (army) capture the UPDF members who are in charge of Laxmichari Unit. And until I am able to do that, I will have to appear at the camp whenever I am asked to. They said I will get into more troubles if I fail in my job.” he added.

On 25 September, army personnel from Laxmichari Zone picked up 6 Jummas and tortured four of them, including Ratan Bindu Chakma and Paipruchai Marma. The army alleged that they provided support to the UPDF members.

When Jotindra Lal Tripura MP visited Laxmichari on Saturday morning, the victims – Ratan Bidu Chakma, Pulindra Chakma, Paipruechai Marma and Aung Sapru Marma – narrated the incident to him and sought his intervention for justice.

After the MP had gone back, zone commander Sharif summoned them to the camp and threatened them for telling the truth to the MP.

Sharif has unleashed a reign of terror in Laxmichari, under Khagracahri district. Scores of innocent people have become victims of his terror. He was the one who tried to foil the 10 July Manikchari rally organized by Democratic Youth Forum and Boroitali Land Protection Committee to protest against illegal land grabbing in Boroitali.