News No. 53/2015,
Sunday, April 12, 2015
The army and police have foiled a colourful
procession organised by Jumma people in celebration of the Boisabi, the main
festival of the indigenous Jumma people in the CHT.
A leader of the Hill Students Council, Elton Chakma,
was arrested as participants tried to gather at Madhupur Bazar in Khagrachari
town in the morning today.
The Boisabi Celebration Committee members have
alleged that the army and police stopped vehicles carrying the participants at
various locations including Zero Mile, Bizitola, Kuradiachara, Dewanpara and in
front of District Council Office building and prevented them from getting to Khagrachari
town.
Another source adds: the army also prevented Jumma
people from taking out Boisabi
processions in Manikchari, Guimara, Ramgarh and Matiranga.
The army personnel halted vehicles carriyng participants
at different locations including Jaliapara, Nakapa, Patachara, Sindukchari and
Jamtola.
Even passenger vehicles have been stopped, the
source said, adding that the army personnel opened blank fire at Jamtola under
Manikchart Upazila apparently to scare the Jumma people off the celebratory procession.
Even then, hundreds of people gathered to the take
out a procession, but it was foiled when Sindukchari Zone commander arrested
one of the organizers, Manendra Chakma, also member of Patachara Union Council.
However, he was released afterwards when the Jumma
participants blocked Khagrachari-Chittagonge road in protest against his
unlawful arrest.
The
United Peoples' Democratic Front (UPDF) in a statement has condemned the government
attempt, terming it fascist.
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