Military raids and torture in Sajek

chtnews.com
News No. 227/2009, December 24, 2009

Two Jumma villagers were tortured during army raids in three villages in Sajek Union under Rangamati district.

According to sources, on the night of 21 December, a group of 10 – 15 army personnel led by Habilder Tarikul Islam from Baghaihat zone raided Baghaihat cluster village.

The soldiers conducted searches into the houses of the village and beat up Sukumar Chakma (40).

They also picked up 10 others. They are Chitta Ranjan Chakma, the village head, Hridoy Ranjan Chakma, ex-member of UP, Laxmi Moni Chakma, teacher of Baghaihat High School, Ujjal Chakma, teacher of Baghaihat High School, Sudarshan Chakma (35), Binoy Chakma, Moti Lal Chakma, Jagadish Chakma, Nirupam Chakma and Ananda Chakma.

However, they were released the next morning.

On the same day, another group of army personnel led by Major Amin and Lt. Masud raided East Balughat and beat up one Arun Bikash Chakma (35) son of Shati Kumar Chakma there.

They also prevented the villagers from constructing an office of a Samiti (group) formed by UNDP.

The army made another raid in the village of Daney Baibachara, searching the house of Biralal Chakma (45) son of Narammya Chakma.

They interrogated him about UPDF and warned against settlement of any landless Jumma family in the area.

“If anyone settles defying our order, we will shoot him,” the army told Biralal.

On 23 December, the army raided East Balughat again. They tried to take away the signboard of the UNDP-formed Samiti (group). But their attempt failed when the village women resisted.

The army then made attempts to pick up a villager named Mano Ranjan Chakma but they had to leave him as the women put up resistance again.