PCJSS expresses strong condemnation and protest over arbitrary arrest of former President of Parbatya Chattogram Yuba Samity from Lumpara of Sijak-dajor area in Baghaichari Upazila under Rangamati Hill District and the innocent Jum cultivator Akhsar Chakma on 3 November 2017 and illegal arrest of Kamalasen Tanchangya, General Secretary of PCJSS Rowangchari Sadar Union branch from the Bhangamura Kachchaptali Passengers’ Shed under Rowangchari upazila of Bandarban Hill district on 31 October 2017.
It is worthy to be mentioned that a group of 12 East Bengal army from Baghaihat Army Zone was out on plea of conducting a searching operation at Lumpara in Sijok-dojar area of Baghaichari Union and sprayed fire sporadically and held some/one innocent person(s) upon whom heavy torture was meted out. It was learnt that the searching party got divided into three groups while surrounding the area and opened fire at a deserted Jum-hut sporadically. By that time, the army personnel apprehended 4 innocent villagers including one Akshar Chakma and afterward one country-made pistol was slipped into his bag. While Akshar Chakma raised protest against, one of the army personnel dealt him with strong slap and kick. After holding up them, though the three others were released, Akshar Chakma was firstly taken to Dojar BGB camp and meted out inhuman torture there. Afterward, he was taken to the Baghaihat Army Zone where he was tortured again. Later, the army handed him over to the Baghaihat Police Station along with the said pistol that they had slipped into his bag.
On the other hand, Kamalasen Tanchangya of Paglachara Para under Roangchari Upazilla of Bandarban Hill district went to Bandarban on some work in connection with timber business riding on motorcycles along with three other associates in the morning on 31 October 2017. Towards the noon time, Kamalasen accompanied by one of his associates, got his work done with one timber business man named Faruk Hossain of Bandarban and then he left for Roangchari. On their way back to home, a group of army moving on patrol duty held them up at the Bhangamura Passengers’ Shed near Roangchari at 6:00 p.m. The Roangchari Army Sub-Zone Commander Major Salauddin came there and got them boarded in his vehicle and drove to Bandarban at 7:00 p.m. It was learnt that he was heavily tortured throughout the night there. The next day i.e. at 11:00 a.m. on 1 November, they were handed over to the Bandarban Sadar Police Station falsely showing them entangled in the Mongpu Marma’s abduction case filed in June 2016.
In a press release dated 4 November 2017 signed by Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary of PCJSS Sajib Chakma, PCJSS strongly demands for immediate stop to such arrest by slipping in weapons or falsely entangling in suits and fascist atrocities and unconditional release of Kamalasen Tanchangya and Akshar Chakma with immediate effect.
Date: 4 November 2017