Ghilachari rape attempt: villagers blocks road, government pledges to punish the culprit

chtnews.com
News No. 179/2009, November 09, 2009

The Jumma villagers in Ghilachari successfully ended their road blockade programme today, with the government giving a pledge in writing to punish, within three days, the army man who made an attempt to rape a Jumma woman yesterday.

The villagers, mostly the women, began the blockade of the Rangamati – Khagrachari link road at 9am in protest against an attempted rape on Mrs Juboni Chakma (22).

They demanded exemplary punishment of the culprit, withdrawal of Ghilachari army camp and measures for protecting the dignity of all women in CHT – Jumma and Bengali alike.

No vehicle was allowed to cross Ghilachari, and those blocked had to return to their respective stations.

Late in the afternoon, a deal was reached between the agitating villagers and the government representatives.

As per the deal, the government side represented by Naniachari Upazila chairman Priti Moy Chakma and Naniachari Upazila Nirbahi Officer signed a pledge to award maximum punishment to the delinquent soldier under the Army Act.

The United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) expressed their support for the road blockade programme.

The government representatives and representatives of the agitating villagers and five witnesses who also put their signatures on the written pledge will hold a meeting tomorrow at 10am to identify the army man involved in the attempted rape.