Hundreds of unidentified miscreants have vandalized and looted some houses of the ethnic Mro community at Soroi Union of Lama in Bandarban before torching them.
The latest incident took place at midnight on Sunday amid the severe cold weather. Villagers left their homes in panic and took shelter in nearby jungles. Many of the attackers were wearing masks.
Johan Tripura, the headman of Doluchari Mauza, blamed the Lama Rubber Industries authorities for the fresh attack, which came as a sequel to arson attacks, land grabbing and poisoning of drinking water sources for the last couple of years.
“Some 10 to 15 masked criminals went to Reyangpara and set fire to the houses of Kamrum Mro, Chingchong Mro and Renyang Mro, besides vandalizing another ten houses and looting cash, ornaments and goods,” he said.
The International CHT Commission (CHTC) also accused the rubber company of persecuting the locals. The organization demanded exemplary action against the alleged perpetrators, and immediate food support and shelter for the victims.
There are about 200 women, men and children of 39 families at Langkam Karbari Para, Jai Chandra Tripura Karbari Para and Rengen Mro Karbari Para. The people of this neighborhood have been making a living by cultivating jhum on about 400 acres of hilly land.
On March 19 last year, the Lama Rubber Industries authorities occupied some land of the Mro people. On April 27 the same year, jhum crops and vegetables on around 100 acres of land were destroyed in an arson attack. Later on September 6, people from Lama Rubber Industries allegedly poisoned the natural water reservoir in the area.
Refuting the allegations, Md Abdul Malek, managing member of Lama Rubber Industries, said: “It is true that we have a land dispute with the local Mro communities. But we avoid going to the spot late at night because armed Mro people guard the area.”
He alleged that the Mro people had staged the attack to shift blame on to the rubber farm authorities.
Shahidul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Lama police station, said surveillance has been increased after the incident. “Action will be taken after investigation if any complaint is filed in this regard.”
Lama UNO Md Mustafa Javed Qaiser said that the district administration had already announced that everyone should stay in their respective positions. “Nothing new can be established there until the dispute is settled,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
