The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti yesterday protested and condemned the rape and murder of an ethnic girl, and attacks on houses, shops and a temple of the ethnic people in Rangamati.
They also demanded the arrest of those who had been involved in the crimes and their exemplary punishment immediately, says a press release.
The day before yesterday, a 15-year-old ethnic girl was found dead with her throat slit in the hilly district. She was believed to have been murdered after rape.
Identified as daughter of Neisa Marma and Anumang Marma from Chitmorom Keyanghat under Kaptai Union in the Kaptai upazila, she sat for the Junior School Certificate exam this year.
Police detained three Bangalees on suspicion of their involvement in the incident and interrogated them at the Kaptai police station. None of them was shown arrested in connection with this incident.
Yesterday, Bangalee settlers vandalised and set fire to 50 houses, seven shops and a Budhist temple of the ethnic people at Chhuridasparha, Nobin Karbari Parha and Bogachharhi villages in Naniarchar upazila.
Three people, including a Buddhist monk, were assaulted and five Buddhist images made of brass were looted during the rampage, allegedly in presence of military men.
In its press release, the PCJSS claimed that they learned from a credible source that the Bangalee settlers’ attack on the ethnic people followed the damaging of their pineapples in the wee hours of yesterday.
It claimed that the members of the United Peoples Democratic Front, which opposes the 1997 Peace Accord, had damaged the crops, provoking the Bangalee settlers to launch this attack.
The PCJSS also demanded that all the affected families be compensated for their losses immediately.