UPDF member kidnapped by JSS (Santu)

chtnews.com
News No. 137/2009, September 27, 2009

A member of the United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) has been kidnapped in Ghagra under Rangamati district.

UPDF sources said a group of JSS (Santu) men came in a jeep and took away Raju Tanchangya (age 20) from a tea shop at Ghagra Chowmuhoni on Rangamati – Chittagong road.

The incident took place at around 1pm today.

“The JSS men came from the direction of Champatali and went back in the same direction.” Ripan Chakma, a local UPDF organiser, told chtnews.com, adding that the miscreants were armed with automatic weapons.

When the people present there sought help from a nearby security check post, the police and army personnel on duty refused to take any action against the JSS thugs, saying “it is your own affairs.”

The security personnel remained silent spectator as the Santu loyalists kidnapped Raju.

Raju is a member of the United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) and affiliated with Kaokhali Unit. He hails from Rajstali, and his father’s name is Balaram Tanchangya.

UPDF’s Rangamati District Unit Organiser, Shanti Dev Chakma condemned the kidnapping of Raju and urged the local administration to take immediate steps to rescue him.

He also criticized the inaction of the local security check post and said “the so-called security personnel have become not only a burden, but also a threat to the security of the very people they claim they protect.”

He said he does not rule out collusion between Santu loyalists and the security personnel.