2 killed in gunfight: Sec 144 at Baghaichhari; houses, bridge burnt
Posted: 21/02/2010 - 11:03
• Two tribal people, including a woman, were reported killed and seven injured, including an army man, in a gunfight
between tribal outlaws and law-enforcers at Gangaram cluster village in Baghaichhari Upazila of Rangamati hill district yesterday.
Police confirmed one of the deaths. While the Parbatya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity (PCJS), a regional political platform, claimed ten deaths and 25 injuries.
Meanwhile, Baghaichhari upazila chairman Sudarshan Chakma at the upazila headquarters received the body of Buddhoputi Chakma brought by her co-villagers. The Chairman claimed about 10 people were killed including Laxmi Bijoy Chakma, 35, Liton Chakma, 34, Debendra Chakma and Notunjoy Chakma in this incident.
An army sergeant named Rezaul was also inured when the frenzied indigenous people chopped him with sharp machetes. He was sent to Chittagong Military Combined Hospital, sources said.
This massacre was preceded by an attack by a group of the tribal people in the Gongaram Mukh area Friday night on the indigenous people there over a land dispute. The tribal people set fire to 40 houses of tribal families Friday night and another 160 Bengali families more yesterday.
Sources in the backwoods said the fighting started at about 9:30 AM between the gunmen and joint forces of police, army and ansar in a sequel to a clash between Bangalee and tribal people on Friday night.
Baghaichhari UNO Humayun Kabir said he had information about the exchange of fire between the law-enforcers and the gunmen, believed to be rebels from the erstwhile Shantibahini that was disbanded after the peace treaty signed in 1997 between its political front named PCJSS and the Government.
He said he and some journalists went to Gangaram to observe the situation. "But we had to take shelter in the office of local army zone due to the firing," said the Government executive officer of the remote upazila.
Army officials' sources said yesterday a group of the tribal people set fire to a bridge at Baghaichhari. Many Bangalee families and Army officers were hostage in these areas.
A police source said some 200 rounds of fire were traded from morning till afternoon, but he did not give details about the outbreak of violence in the hills.
Receiving the information, army from adjacent Baghaihat zone went to the spot at about 10:00 AM and tried to calm down both feuding groups.
Quoting some tribal leaders, Baghaichhari upazila Press Club secretary Giasuddin said three inhabitants of the Chakma-majority cluster village were killed. They were identified as Buddhoputi Chakma, 38, wife of Uttam Chakma, Laxmi Bijoy Chakma, 35, and Bharat Chakma, 32.
Meanwhile, tribal people alleged the law-enforcers first opened fire on the villagers while army sources claimed the law-enforcers came under attack first.
An uneasy calm is prevailing in Baghaichhari Upazila as the army personnel gheraoed the area. District Administration imposed Section 144 in Baghaichhari Upazila to fend off further flare-up of trouble.
Earlier on Friday night, suspected tribal outlaws set ablaze 20 houses at Gangaram village after three tribal people were held by Bangalees.
Local sources said some Bangalees caught three tribal young men along with a motorcycle at about 9:30 on Friday night as they teased them while passing through the village. They were, however, freed later.
Meanwhile, a Bangalee student was injured as supporters of Parbatya Bangali Chhatra Parishad (PBCP) and tribal students of Dighinala College locked in a brawl on the campus during a protest rally of PBCP.
Source: The New Nation Bangladesh
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