Some HR violation news occured in July,2006

Army tortures one in Maischri

HR Monitoring Cell, UPDF, 18 July 2006

An innocent villager in Tholipara under Maischari of Northern Chittagong Hill Tracts has been arrested.

On 13 July the soldiers from Maischari camp rounded up Kalibandhu Karbari (Tripura) from his house in Tholipara and taken him to the camp. He was severely beaten up before being released the following day.

CHT NEWS NO. 114. Prepared by Human Rights Monitoring Cell, United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF). July 18, 2006. Website: www.updfcht.org


UPDF member killed in BDR firing

HR Monitoring Cell, UPDF, 21 July 2006

A member of the United Peoples’ Democratic Front has been killed in Logang under Panchari Thana of Northern Chittagong Hill Tracts (Khagrachari district).

The incident took place in the early hours of today. UPDF members were in the house of Samar Bikash Chakma, chairman of Logang Union Parishad, when a contingent of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) led by Major Golam Mowla, second-in-command of Logang Zone in Khagrachari Sector, opened brushfire after encircling the house.

Minutes earlier, the UPDF members had been driven by the armed cadres of the Jana Samhati Samiti.

The indiscriminate BDR firing left UPDF member Kalafa Chakma dead on the spot. However, no other casualties have been reported.

As usual, the BDR is trying to project Kalafa as a terrorist.

The BDR men also arrested Samar Bikash Chakma and beat him up. He is still being held by them.

The JSS militants and the government of Bangladesh have recently intensified armed attacks and political repression against UPDF in a synchronized manner.

Due to intensified armed attacks and army and police raids, in many areas UPDF members cannot sleep in their own houses.

UPDF Khagrachari unit in a statement issued to the press has condemned the killing of Kalafa Chakma and demanded punishment to the BDR men responsible for it.

CHT NEWS NO. 116. Prepared by Human Rights Monitoring Cell, United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF). July 21, 2006. Website: www.updfcht.org

Army beat one Jumma to death

HR Monitoring Cell, UPDF, 18 July 2006

The army in Mahalchari in Northern Chittagong Hill Tracts (Khagrachari district) has beaten an innocent Jumma to death and arrested six others. The victims are being projected as terrorists.

On the night of 14 July a group of 40 – 50 army men raided the house of Atul Chakma in the village of Badalhat when his wedding ceremony was taking place. The soldiers rounded up and tortured seven persons including the bridegroom. One of them – Mr. Kengal Moy Chakma s/o Kerani Mohan Chakma – died from the beating, while the rest were arrested and taken to an army camp in Mahalchari. The following day they were handed over to the Mahalchari police station.

The other victims have been identified as Abinoy Chakma (19) Purna Kumar Chakma, Ananda Chakma (20) s/o Sumati Ranjan Chakma, Ajentono Chakma (18) (deceased’s brother) s/o Kerani Mohan Chakma, Binimoy Chakma (19) s/o Nilo Mohan Chakma and Putul Bikash Chakma (20) s/o Upendra Chakma.

All but Putul Bikash Chakma, who hails from Kengelchari, are from the village of Badalhat.

The arrested are now being held at Khagrachari district jail.

To cover up the death, the army is trying to project them as terrorists.

CHT NEWS NO. 113. Prepared by Human Rights Monitoring Cell, United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF). July 18, 2006. Website: www.updfcht.org