Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti(PCJSS) condemns and protests against killing after raping of tender-aged Marma girl and arson after communal attackupon Naniarchar-Bogachhari Jumma villages by the Bengali settlersand demands for arrest of the culprits with exemplary punishment.
PCJSS,in its press released signed by Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary Sajib Chakma issued on 16 December 2014, expresses its deep anguish and concern over the incidents of brutally killing after raping of a Jumma tender-aged girl Atuma Marma alias Umraching Marma alias Chhobi in Kaptai Union under Kaptai Upazila of Rangamati district on 15 December 2014 and communal attack upon Jumma villages including Buddhist temple followed by gutting down of houses at Bogachari of Burighat Union under Naniarchar Upazila of the same district 16 December 2014.
Affected Jumma family in Naniachar
It is mentionable that one tender-aged Jumma girl identified as Atuma Marma alias Chhobi (15) daughter of Anu Maung Marma and Naisa Marma of village Chitmaram Kayang Ghat was brutally killed on 15 December 2014 at presumably between 12:00 p.m. and 01:00 pm. It is assumed that Atuma Marma was killed after raping. Atuma had appeared JSC Examination in Chitmaram High School this year.
It was learnt that Atuma, having her parents informed, went to the nearby Jum for some time. But as she did not return even after an hour, the worried mother went to the Jum in search of her. Atuma’s mother found slit and naked death body of Atuma at Muslim Ghat area lying on the ground around 1:15 pm. As the matter came to known in the area, the incident was reported to the police. The police rescued the death body around 2:00 pm and sent in for an autopsy to Rangamati Sadar Hospital. It was learnt that the police took three suspects belonging to Muslim Bengali community to the police station and though the suspects were interrogated; none was shown arrested in the record till the time this press release issued.
On the other hand, on 16 December 2014 around 6:00 to 7:00 am the Bengali settlers of Islampur and Bogachari settlements backed by a group of army, conducted communal attack upon three Jumma villages namely, Churidas Para, Nabin Karbari Para and Bogachari gutting down 50 houses and 7 shops and meting out torture upon one Buddhist monk and two lay Jumma persons followed by rampage of Buddha images and looted 5 numbers of bronze-made Buddha statues.
It was learnt that earlier, some Bengali settlers planted pine apple plants in the land forcibly occupied by them from one local inhabitant Nishi Kumar Chakma. From a reliable source, it was further learnt that the UPDF terrorists cut down the said pine apple plants on the previous night. As temptation got spread out among the Bengali settlers in the morning, a group of army led by the Naniarchar army zone Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Sohel and 2IC Major Rakib went there. At certain stage of the situation, the Bengali settlers in batches, began to conduct communal attacks upon Churidas Para, Nabin Karbari Para and Bogachari para, etc. Besides, fallen prey to victim of army-severe beating were the No. 3 Ward Member Ananda Chakma (35) a/so Manek Chandra Chakma and Alomoy Chakma (28) s/o late Shanti Kumar Chakma of Ramhari Para.
PCJSS expresses its strong condemnation and protestation over both the incidents and demands for immediate arrest of the convicts and award exemplary punishment to them. Alongside, PCJSS also strongly demands to the concerned authorities for proper compensation to the affected families on emergency basis.
On 17 December 2014 at 10:00 am PCJSS Rangamati district branch organised a procession front of Deputy Commissioner’s office in Rangamati district. Presided over by president of PCJSS Rangamati district branch Gunendu Bikash Chakma, the protest meeting was addressed by information and publicity secretary Sajib Chakma, general secretary of Parbatya Chattgrama Mahila Samiti Ms. Suprava Chakma, vice president of Hill Students Council Ripesh Chakma, general secretary of Parbatya Chattagram Juba Samiti Mr. Tapas Chakma et el.Protest meeting was followed a procession which was ended at office of PCJSS district office parading Banarupa patrol pump.
Protest assembly at Rangamati
Pahari Chhatra Parishad (Hill Students Council) and Hill Women’s Federation also organised procession in Dhaka, Chittagong, Kaptai sadar and Kaptai Swedish in Rangamati district, Rowangchari in Bandarban district. PCP and HWF demanded for immediate arrest of those responsible for the incidents and award exemplary punishment to them and for proper compensation to the affected families.