Author: Rangamati/ The Daily Star
Publication: News from Bangladesh
Date: August 31, 2003
URL: http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/aug/31/n31082003.htm#A6
Nine indigenous women, three of
a family, were gangraped and some others assaulted during nearly eight-hour
mob attacks on at least 10 villages in Mohalchhari upazila of Khagrachhari
district on Wednesday, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS)
leader Polash Khisha alleged yesterday.
More than 400 houses in those villages,
two Buddhist temples and three shops were set ablaze and an elderly indigenous
man was killed during the attacks, said Polash, PCJSS Rangamati district
unit secretary.
Polash made the allegations at a
protest rally in front of the deputy commissioner's office here at 11:00am.
The rape victims included the wife
and two teenage daughters of a Chakma man of Pahartoli village and six
others of Dupoizza Neel village, he said.
Quoting a detailed report from indigenous
villagers, the PCJSS leader alleged involvement of some security personnel
in instigating the mob into attacking the villages.
Polash also said an eight-month-old
baby named Chikko Chakma, son of Shamiron Chakma, died in his arms as he
pressed the child's mouth to prevent him from crying to avert attacks by
the mob while fleeing his house in Karengalal village.
The PCJSS leader alleged a vested
quarter is making fresh bids to worsen the situation in the Chittagong
Hill Tracts (CHT) region and the Mohalchhari incident is the latest one.
The rally was chaired by PCJSS'
student wing Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) Rangamati district unit president
Ashin Chakma and addressed by, among others, PCP central leader Binotamoy
Tripura and Tulu Marma.
Earlier, the district unit PCP also
brought out a procession that paraded thoroughfares of the town.
Meanwhile, the United People's Democratic
Front (UPDF) has called a 72-hour road blockade programme in the hill district
from 6:00am today to realise its six- point demand, reports UNB.
UPDF leaders announced the programme
at a press conference here yesterday to press for their demands, including
formation of a judicial inquiry committee, to probe the recent incidents
of killing and arson in Mohalchhari Upazila.( UNB/ The Daily Star )
