CHT turns into death trap

The Chittagong Hill Tracts have virtually turned into a death trap as killings go on unabatedly in the hilly areas.   At least eight indigenous leaders were gunned down and two leaders – Adarshon Chakma and Babu Chakma – sustained gunshot injuries in separate incidents over the last 17 days in three hill districts.   The deceased leaders belonged to three organisations – Santu Larma led Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghaty Samity (PCJSS), its faction Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghaty Samity (MN Larma group) and the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), according to Khagrachhari and Rangamati’s District Special Branch police.   Panchhari Upazila PCJSS (MN Larma group) General Secretary Supon Chakma alias Sagor Badsha was killed on June 29.  Due to the ongoing factional clash PCJSS (MN Larma group)  leader Mithun Chakma, 28, was gunned down in Merung Bazar area under Dighinala upazila on July 2 while UPDF leader Samiron Chakma, 34 and PCJSS (MN Larma) leader Jarman Chakma alias Purna Chakma were gunned down on July 4 at Pujgung under Panchhari upazila. PCJSS (Santu Larma group) leader Umong Marma, 50, was shot dead on July 5 at Kumary Tintohori Para under Manikchhari upazila. Pastor (chief) of Tapitapara Christain Church Arun Kanti Chakma, 40, was killed at Tapita Para under Panchhari upazila and another PCJSS (MN Larma group) leader Anjoy Chakma, 35, was shot dead at Ultachhari village under Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari. Santu Larma led PCJSS leader Thowaicha Ching Marma, 40, was gunned down at Agorpara under Kaptai upazila in Rangamati on July 14.   UPDF Press Secretary Niron Chakma blamed their rival PCJSS (Santu Larma) group for the killings.    Condemning the killings, he asked Santu Larma to stop them in the CHT region.    He also urged the district administration to arrest Santu Larma saying that he is the mastermind behind the killings, abductions, lootings and all sorts of criminal activities in the CHT region.   PCJSS (MN-Larma group) Khagrachhari district unit General Secretary Bibu Ranjon Chakma also blamed the Santu Larma led fraction for the killings. He urged law enforcers to take actions against the killers.    Assistant Secretary of PCJSS (Santu Larma group) Sajib Chakma denied their involvement in the killings. Blaming UPDF for the killings, Sajib urged the government to ban UPDF considering its criminal and anti-state activities.   Superintendent of Rangamati Police Amena Khatun and Superintendent of Khagrachhari Police SK Mizanur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that the killings took place over establishing supremacy in the hill districts.    In most of the killing cases, family members of the victims were not interested in filing cases, they said. Most of the time the police file cases but it has become difficult to prove the cases, as they could not find any witness.