Local armed groups make CHT situation volatile

At least 1,065 killed in 22 years, say law enforcers

Local armed groups reportedly belonging to Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS-Santu), Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS-MN Larma), United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) and the newly-formed UPDF-Ganatantrik have been killing each other for establishing supremacy in Chattogram Hill Tract region (CHT), said sources in law enforcement agencies. At least 1,065 people have been killed in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari in as many as 287 incidents in the last 22 years, the sources said.

Among the total deaths, 110 Bangali people have been killed by the local armed groups, mostly in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts, the sources said. Also, the armed groups are involved in smuggling of various firearms like M-16 rifle, M-22 rifle, M-1 rifle, AK-47 rifle, AK-22 rifle, G-3 rifle, submachine gun (SMG), lightning gun (LG), pistol, smooth-bore breech-loading (SBBL) and SMC from neighbouring countries to use them in fighting among themselves, making the hills a killing zone, the sources added.

In the name of the local parties, the terrorist groups have been committing various crimes like abduction, extortion and robbery in the area. Law enforcement agencies have recovered 11,051 arms and ammunition from the hills in the last seven years.

At least 1,423 terrorist have been arrested by the law enforcement agencies since 2013.

When contacted, Rangamati police super Md Alamgir Kabir told The Independent that they were conducting joint drives, comprising members of the Bangladesh Army, BGB, RAB and the police, and recovered huge quantities of arms and ammunitions.

“It's difficult to conduct operations in the hills because some places are remotely located. At the same time, our manpower and

equipment are not enough because of the difficult terrain,” he said. He claimed that the terror groups were smuggling firearms through the porous Rangamati border. “Local armed groups and some local political leaders want money. So, they have taken to extorting locals,” he said.

Newly-appointed Khagrachari deputy commissioner Protab Chandra Biswas told The Independent that he would work for restoring peace in the area. “My main task would be to control the law and order situation and stop the collection of illegal tolls,” he said. Sources said there are at least 172 kilometres of porous border areas in the hilly areas. As much as 126 kms of area, from Naraichari to Sajek, remains unprotected. Members of law enforcement agencies cannot patrol the areas due to deep forest and hilly areas.

After signing the CHT Peace Treaty in 1997, PCJSS chairman Shantu Larma, along with the activists of his outfit, pledged to restore peace in the area. They surrendered arms and took over the responsibility of the regional council.

Local armed groups make CHT situation volatile

At least 1,065 killed in 22 years, say law enforcers

Local armed groups reportedly belonging to Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS-Santu), Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS-MN Larma), United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) and the newly-formed UPDF-Ganatantrik have been killing each other for establishing supremacy in Chattogram Hill Tract region (CHT), said sources in law enforcement agencies. At least 1,065 people have been killed in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari in as many as 287 incidents in the last 22 years, the sources said. Among the total deaths, 110 Bangali people have been killed by the local armed groups, mostly in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts, the sources said. Also, the armed groups are involved in smuggling of various firearms like M-16 rifle, M-22 rifle, M-1 rifle, AK-47 rifle, AK-22 rifle, G-3 rifle, submachine gun (SMG), lightning gun (LG), pistol, smooth-bore breech-loading (SBBL) and SMC from neighbouring countries to use them in fighting among themselves, making the hills a killing zone, the sources added. In the name of the local parties, the terrorist groups have been committing various crimes like abduction, extortion and robbery in the area. Law enforcement agencies have recovered 11,051 arms and ammunition from the hills in the last seven years. At least 1,423 terrorist have been arrested by the law enforcement agencies since 2013. When contacted, Rangamati police super Md Alamgir Kabir told The Independent that they were conducting joint drives, comprising members of the Bangladesh Army, BGB, RAB and the police, and recovered huge quantities of arms and ammunitions. Its difficult to conduct operations in the hills because some places are remotely located. At the same time, our manpower and equipment are not enough because of the difficult terrain, he said. He claimed that the terror groups were smuggling firearms through the porous Rangamati border. Local armed groups and some local political leaders want money. So, they have taken to extorting locals, he said. Newly-appointed Khagrachari deputy commissioner Protab Chandra Biswas told The Independent that he would work for restoring peace in the area. My main task would be to control the law and order situation and stop the collection of illegal tolls, he said. Sources said there are at least 172 kilometres of porous border areas in the hilly areas. As much as 126 kms of area, from Naraichari to Sajek, remains unprotected. Members of law enforcement agencies cannot patrol the areas due to deep forest and hilly areas. After signing the CHT Peace Treaty in 1997, PCJSS chairman Shantu Larma, along with the activists of his outfit, pledged to restore peace in the area. They surrendered arms and took over the responsibility of the regional council.