Army conducts house searches in Naniachar

On the night of 21 November 2005 a group of army men numbering about 25 led by Captain Qamrul and Lieutenant Raqib from Naniachari Zone (24 E. Bengal) in collaboration with Jana Samhati Samiti militants carried out raids and searches in the village of Dewan Para under Sabekkyong Union in Rangamati district.

The soldiers broke into houses and beat up Motidhar Chakma (40) s/o Baneshwar Chakma, Prem Ranjan Chakma (50) s/o Bangali Chan Chakma and Harihar Chakma (48).

They also dragged Harihar Chakma’s son Supon Alo Chakma out of the house and searched his room. A soldier found Taka 360 during the search and slipped it into his pockets.

Two Jana Samhati Samiti militants Sidharth Chakma and Indu Bikash Chakma accompanied and guided the army during the operation. They were dressed in military combat uniform.

In another incident the same army officers raided North Firingi Para village in the name of searching for terrorists.

This happened on 29 November at about 8 p. m. The soldiers searched the houses of Mrs. Sarali Chakma, Dhana Moni Chakma, Mrs. Nirupa Chakma, Brio Bahu Chakma and Amullyo Chakma.

Nothing incriminating was found during the raid, but yet the soldiers arrested two members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) – Probol Chakma s/o Krishna Chakma and Lakshman Chakma s/o Lakshmi Dhan Chakma.

They were beaten up inhumanly both at the village and in the camp. The following day the army officers sent for Sub-Inspector Munir of Naniachar police station and handed the UPDF members over to him.

Both of them are now languishing in Rangamati jail.

During the same raid the marauding soldiers also tortured a college student and harassed many other villagers.

Prepared by Press Section, Publications and Publicity Department, United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), January 09, 2006, Dhaka.