Two separate cases have been filed in Khagrachhari and Rangamati in connection with the killing of two individuals on September 18 and 19, amid ongoing unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
In Khagrachhari, a case was lodged against three people over the death of 35-year-old trader Mamun, who was reportedly beaten to death in the Shalban area of Dighinala upazila on September 18.
His death triggered violence in Khagrachhari, where over 100 shops and businesses were torched at the Larma Square market, severely disrupting law and order.
Three indigenous people were killed during the clashes in Khagrachhari, prompting local authorities to impose Section 144 in an attempt to restore calm.
The accused in Mamun’s murder case have been identified as Md Shakil, 27, Rafiqul Alam, 55, and Didarul Alam, 50.
Additionally, 10 to 12 unidentified indigenous and Bangalee individuals were also implicated.
The case was filed by Mamun’s wife, Mukta Akter, at Khagrachhari Sadar police station on the night of September 19. However, the information surfaced only after three advisers of the interim government visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Khagrachhari Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Baten Mridha confirmed the filing of the case to The Daily Star, adding: "We took the case, but before we could begin our investigation, the situation escalated and went out of control."
According to the case statement, Mamun was a furniture trader and the owner of "Maa Furniture."
On the evening of September 17, he left home for his shop, intending to spend the night there due to accommodation issues at home. The following day, his wife learned that Mamun’s employee, Shahin, had been abducted. She also found out that the accused, Shakil, Rafiqul, and Didarul, had forced Mamun to go with them, allegedly due to prior enmity.
Later, she saw a video on Facebook showing an attempt to kill her husband. She eventually found him dead at Khagrachhari District Sadar Hospital, while Shahin, who witnessed the incident, was also beaten and remains in the hospital.
The OC said: "We are investigating the case, but it’s too early to comment. No arrests have been made so far."
Chittagong Range DIG Ahsan Habib Palash assured that the police would bring the accused to justice, saying: "No one involved in the murder will be spared."
Meanwhile, in Rangamati, another case was filed after 19-year-old Anik Chakma was beaten to death during clashes between indigenous and Bangalee groups. The violence, which started in Khagrachhari, spread to Rangamati on Friday, where Anik succumbed to his injuries after being taken to the hospital.
On Saturday, Anik’s father, Adar Sen Chakma, filed a case against unidentified individuals at Kotwali police station. Rangamati District Police’s Additional Superintendent of Police Shah Md Imran told The Daily Star: "We are trying to identify the suspects and make arrests."
In response to the violence, indigenous protesters, under the banner of Jummo Chhatra-Janata Parishad, enforced a 72-hour road and waterway blockade starting Friday evening.
As of this morning, local vehicles were operating within Khagrachhari town, but inter-district bus services between Chittagong-Khagrachhari and Khagrachhari-Rangamati remained suspended.