‘Law enforcement agency members tortured five indigenous villagers as they protested land grabbing in Rangamati’

CHT DESK

Members of law enforcement agency tortured five indigenous villagers as they protested land grabbing in remote Jurachhari area of Rangamati on Saturday alleged Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP), Hill Women’s Federation and United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF).

In a statement, UPDF demanded punishment of the alleged members and compensation including medical expenses for the injured villagers.

“Members of law enforcement agency didn’t take any action against the land grabbers, rather they picked up the innocent villagers and tortured which is the gross violation of human rights in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)”, the statement said.

On Saturday, a group of settlers of the area tried to encroach the ancestral land of one Himayan Chakma near Jurachhari health complex area.

When the villagers of the area protested, some members of the nearest army camp came to the spot, supported the alleged land grabbers and later picked up five indigenous villagers to the camp, the statement reads.

Thawikoyjai Chak, general secretary of the Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) central committee, in a protest rally on Sunday in Rangamati said, “The job of the law enforcement agency members is to protect the country and to protect the sovereignty of the country.  Torturing indigenous people and standing by the land grabbers mustn’t be their duty .”

 Jiko Chakma, President of PCP Rangamati district unit said in his speech “The alleged law enforcement agency is working in favour of the land grabbers. The land of the indigenous people in CHT is constantly being encroached as the activities of Land Commission are being neglected.” 

“Due to the non-implementation of the main clauses of peace accord, land grabbing continuously unabated in CHT”, said Mranuching Marma, president of Hill Women’s Federation Rangamati district unit in her welcome speech. 

Seeking anonymity, a son of one of the victims said “My father who protested against the land grabbing was tortured brutally. He is now undergoing treatment at the hospital. Facing threat and pressure we don’t want to comment in this regard.” 

After several times attempt army official of Rangamati cantonment didn’t receive the call.