Seven UPDF supporters kidnapped by JSS (Santu) in Manikchari

chtnews.com
News No. 229/2009, December 26, 2009

As the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) observes its eleventh founding anniversary today, seven of its supporters have been kidnapped by Santu faction of the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) from Manikchari under Rangamati district.

The incident comes barely one day after the army tore down UPDF posters pasted on walls in the same area.

UPDF sources said their supporters were kidnapped yesterday at about 4pm while putting up posters in Manikchari.

The posters were about withdrawal of the army, land grabbing, continuing human rights violations and constitutional recognition to the ethnic Jumma people and their traditional land laws.

“The JSS men came in 10 – 12 motor bikes from Rangamati and took our people away at gun point.” Alakesh Chakma, a UPDF organiser in Rangamati district, told chtnews.com.

“They were taken towards Rangapannya and tortured,” he added, quoting village elders who had been sent to Rangamati to verify the incident and contact JSS leaders.

The JSS men also beat up Anil Chakma, the driver of a CNG auto rickshaw which the kidnapped UPDF supporters had hired for their work. However, he was released hours later when other drivers and the owner of his vehicle put pressure on JSS.