Following the 10th National Parliamentary Election held on 5 January 2014, United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), the anti-accord terrorist outfit and Reformist Group (Sudhasindhu-Tatindra group) started suppressing campaign against supporters of their opponents. This election violence by UPDF left one person killed, 10 abducted and 4 tortured while another one was threatened of life in Khagrachari district. It is mentionable that though the UPDF fielded its candidates for the three constituencies in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) namely Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban as independent candidates in the election, it could not win in any of them. From the beginning of election, the UPDF terrorists were exerting pressure and threatening of dire consequence upon the Jumma voters especially, in Khagrachari area while passing order to cast vote in favor of their candidates. It is noteworthy that they continued putting pressure upon the voters even after the election was over.
Naba Kumar Karbari shot dead
On 8 January 2014 at about 8:30 p.m. a group of UPDF armed cadres numbering five to six came to Naba Kumar Tripura (42) son of late Bidya Mohan Tripura of village- Bidya Mohan Karbari Para of Logang union under Panchari upazila of Khagrachari Hill District. The terrorists manhandled Naba Kumar Tripura and made him move 10 to 15 yards away of his house before shooting him to death. It was learnt that deceased Naba Kumar Tripura was the Karbari (traditional village Head) of his own village and the Vice President of Logang Union Unit of Awami League. He had worked for the Awami League candidate competing from Khagrachari constituency during the 10th Parliamentary election held on 5 January 2014 amid pressure with threatening and intimidation of the UPDF cadres asking him to canvas for favor of the UPDF candidate.
It was also learnt that soon after completion of Naba Kumar Tripura’s dead body on 9 January 2014, the local villagers chased after three members of UPDF terrorists. In this incident, one of them was killed on the spot while another one sustained fatal injuries.
Joseph Tripura beaten inhumanly
On 7 January 2014 at about 10:00 pm, Mr. Joseph Tripura (40), son of late Fela Kumar Tripura, Karbari of village- Fela Kumar Karbari Para of Matiranga Sadar union under Matiraga upazila of Khagrachari Hill District was mercilessly beaten up by a group of UPDF terrorists led by Chandan Chakma after taking him a little away from his house. At that time, Joseph Tripura was watching television at his residence. He was admitted to Matiranga Hospital on the following day.
9 persons abducted from different villages
On 4 January 2014, the UPDF terrorists abducted 9 villagers from different villages and gathered them at Bamo Gomti Sarbasiddhi Para at about 9:00 am on that day. After keeping the villagers under confinement for two days, they were released on 6 January 2014 just on the day after the election held on 5 January. It was learnt that the UPDF had an allegation against the victims that they were not working for favor of the candidate chosen by the outfit. The abducted villagers were as follows:
(1) Mr. Sholo Ana Tripura (42), son of late Pushparam Tripura, village- Makumtoisa Rowaza Para;
(2) Mr. Ruhini Kumar Tripura (60), son of late Dulendra Tripura, village- do;
(3) Jibonananda Tripura (38), son of Loxmi Mohan Tripura, village- Bumung Koroi Para, Bandarchara;
(4) Mr. Moni Ranjan Tripura (38), son of Bhabani Kumar Rowaza, village- Brihadanda Para, Bandarchara;
(5) Mr. Golap Ranjan Tripura (37), son of Puran Kumar Tripura, Karbari of village- Puran Kumar Para, Bandarchara;
(6) Mr. Mukkhya Ranjan Tripura (41), son of late Jatin Kumar Tripura, village- Brihadanda Para, Bandarchara;
(7) Mr. Shayan Bikash Tripura (43), son of late Chandan Kumar Tripura, village- Bangamura;
(8) Mr. Dhanajoy Tripura (26), son of Paresh Tripura, village- Bhangamura;
(9) Mr. Atul Kumar Tripura (37), son of late Ramdhan Tripura, village- Gokal Moni Para;
The abductors of the villagers were identified as: (1) Chandan Chakma, area chief, UPDF armed cadres, (2) Zerin Chakma, (3) Benoy Chakma, (4) Dhana Moni Tripura, son of Braja Kumar Tripura, village- Bhanga Mura, (5) Kaksa Tripura, village: Sarbasiddhi Para.
3 persons beaten in Panchari
Another report on atrocities of UPFD states that 3 innocent villagers of different villages were also beaten by UPDF in Panchari of Khagrachari hill district concerning the election. The villagers were: (1) Mr. Tapo Ranjan Tripura (34), son of Asha Charan Tripura, village- Pamini Para, Ultachari union, Panchari upazila, (2) Mr. Anjit Tripura (17), a student, son of Makhangfa Tripura, village- Singsa Para, Latiban union, Panchari upazila, (3) Tamisa Tripura (43), son of unknown, village- Prafulla Karbari Para, Ultachari union, Panchari upazila.
It was learnt that the UPDF cadres who had beaten the villagers were identified as Heang Tripura (36), party name- Keang Tripura, son of Upendra Tripura of village Moratila, Matiranga upazila and he was accompanied by unidentified two other associates belonging to Chakma. Keang Tripura is also known as Kiran Tripura in his own village: Balyachari of Matiranga upazila.
One threatened to death
The UPDF terrorists threatened Mr. Haripada Tripura of life over cell phone at 8:44 p.m. on 5 January 2014 ? the day of the 10th National Parliamentary Election. The following day, Mr. Tripura was again threatened for life over cell phones having numbers 01825290457 and 01811933649 respectively. Mr. Haripada Tripura is the Central Information and Publicity Secretary of Bangladesh Tripura Welfare Council and Union Council member of Guimara Union of Matiranga upazila of Khagrachari Hill District.
Another villager abducted by Reformist group in Longadu
On 7 January 2014 at about 9:00 pm, another villager named Mr. Kalaya Chakma (32), son of Umesh Chandra Chakma, village- Mohajan Para, Longadu union of Longadu upazila under Rangamati Hill District was abducted by the armed Reformist Group led by Rasel Chakma and Apon Chakma. According to the local sources, the Reformist Group cadres abducted Kalaya Chakma intending to keep him dethatched from election campaign for favor of the candidate of his choice. In the face of tremendous pressure from the mass people, the UPDF authority compelled to release the after beating him severely on 8 January 2014.