News
No. 68/2012, Sunday, August 26,
2012
THREE Jumma people have been injured when a Bengali
settler attacked them with a machete as they protested an attempt to grab their
land in Panchari of Khagrachari district.
According
to sources, Mashud Rana, 30, son of Sadeq Ali, a Bengali settler from Amarpur
village in Ward No. 4 of Ultachari Union had been trying to capture five acres
of land belonging to Kanti Bhushan Chakma of North Shantipur
for a long time.
The
land, registered in Mr Chakma’s name, is located in North Shantipur
village.
Couple
of months ago, an arbitration meeting was held at Ultachari Union Council to
settle the dispute, but no conclusive decision was made.
Thereafter,
Kanti Bhushan, 65, filed a suit in the Judges’ Court in Khagrachari.
But
Mashud Rana entered the land with the police yesterday and began constructing a
house there today.
Hearing
this, Kanti Bhushan Chakma, his wife and son and another villager rushed there
at around 3pm and made a strong
protest, leading to an altercation between them.
At
one stage, Mashud Rana attacked them with his dao (machete), injuring Kanti
Bhushan Chakma, his wife Laxmi Sita Chakma, 60 and his son Triratan Chakma, 40.
Kanti
Bhushan got cuts on his three fingers of the left hand while Laxmi Sita on her
thumb. Triratan sustained cuts on his left shoulder and left hand.
All
of them have been admitted to Panchari Upazila health complex.
The
United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) and its front organizations condemned
the attack and urged the local administration to arrest and prosecute Mashud
Rana.
They
also called on the government to stop land grabbing and rehabilitate the
settlers outside of the CHT.
They
staged a demonstration in Khagrachari in protest against the incident.
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