The army claimed to have detained two leaders of UPDF-backed student group Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) with a pistol and bullets from Mohalchhari of Khagrachhari district Friday.
The duo are PCP's Mohalchhari upazila unit President Menon Chakma and its Cultural Affairs Secretary Sumonto Chakma.
A team of army personnel led by Mohalchhari Zone Commander Lt Col Syed Md Abdullah Zunayed detained them from Sumonto’s house at Bhuatek village early Friday.
They also seized a locally-made pistol, two rounds of bullets, 13 mobile phons, two wristwatches and documents from their possession.
Menon was released after interrogation while Sumonto handed over to Mohalchhari police station, Lt Col Zunayed said.
He told reporters that they would continue such operations to curb extortion and criminal activities in the area.
Mohalchhari police station Sub-Inspector Habibur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that a case had been filed against Sumonto under the Arms Act.
The Dhaka Tribune cannot independently verify the claims.
Drives against leaders and activists of different indigenous political groups were launched after the government empowered the army and the BGB to conduct joint raids in early 2015 to curb crimes including extortion, abduction and murders.
On April 29, an army team of Khagrachhari Sadar and Panchhari sub-zone picked up Jewel Chakma, president of PCP’s Panchhari upazila unit, from a house in the area.
The detention came amid widespread protests over the death of Romel Chakma, PCP’s Naniarchar unit general secretary in Rangamati, while undergoing treatment on April 19.
Romel was picked up by the army on April 5 for interrogation, and later handed over to the police. The National Human Rights Commission has launched a probe after Romel’s father alleged that he had died of torture by the army personnel.
Friday, March 28, 2025
