Sayeed Muhammad: Just two and half months into the killing of five people in a political dispute in a single day in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Khagrachhari in the latest blow saw six people being shot dead.
The six ill-fated including a of Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) nwere killed while three others sustained injuries in a gun attack in the hill district’s Sadar upazila yesterday, The Daily Star reported quoting local police.
Among the deceased, Tapan Chakma was the PCP’s Khagrachhari district unit president. The student organisation is backed by United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF), a CHT-based regional platform.
Abdul Awal, assistant superintendent of police (Sadar circle), confirmed the deaths, adding that identities of the the rest deceased could not be known yet.
The incident occurred in Swanirbhor area of Khagrachhari Sadar around 8:30am, the police official said, adding, the injured were sent to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.
Meanwhile, news agency UNB identified two of the deceased as PCP leader Elton Chakma and Ganatrantrik Jubo Forum leader Polash Chakma.
Additional police and army personnel were deployed in the area amid growing as tensions there, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station Shahadat Hossain.
On May 4, another five people were shot dead in Rangamati, one of the three hill districts. They were killed just a day after the killing of Shaktiman Chakma, chairman of Naniarchar Upazila Parishad. The five, including a Bangalee driver, were on a microbus full of political leaders and activists headed for Hugurmara area of the upazila to attend Shaktiman’s funeral.
“Around 280 leaders and activists of UPDF were killed over internal political feud in CHT after peace accord” said Michael Chakma, a spokesperson for UPDF then told the reporters.
Meanwhile, PCJSS Central Publicity Secretary Sajib Chakma said, “Over 300 supporters and leaders of PCJSS have been killed over internal feud in Chittagong Hill Tracts after Peace Accord, adding, “If the accord were fully implemented the conspirators would never get chance to create anarchy”.
Members of the hill-based parties said they are in fear of more bloodsheds in the hills as the situation was becoming increasingly confrontational.
On May 28, three more UPDF members were shot dead at Korolyachhari in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati.