News No. 102/2013, Wednesday, September 11, 2013
A
JOINT attack by Chattra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami
League, and illegal Bengali settlers on 7 September left five Jumma
students wounded in Mahalchari College in Khagrachari.
The incident originated from an altercation between a Bengali student and a Jumma student over a trivial issue.
But
when a teacher of Bengali department of the college, Tusher Das,
entered the class room and sided with the Bengali student, the matter
went out of control.
The Bengali student got emboldened by the support of Tusher Das and grabbed the Jumma student by the collar.
Seeing this, the other Jumma students in the class made a protest, which ultimately led to a brawl between the two sides.
Later,
the Jumma students walked out of the class room to the college ground
in protest against the manhandling of the Jumma students.
At
this stage, the Chattra League added fuel to the fire when its
activists led by Md. Zia went there and began threatening the Jumma
students.
When Jumma students protested, the Chattra League activists attacked them with brickbats.
The
Jumma students tried to resist but the clash spread beyond college area
to Chowmuhoni where Bengalis from across the political divide joined
with the Chattra League activists in the attack.
They
came from Mahalchari bazar in motorbikes and CNG autorickshaws to take
part in the attack. The illegal Bengali settlers from Joysen Para also
rushed to the college ground by jeeps.
Later a joint contingent of police and army were deployed who brought the situation under control.
However,
one hour after this incident, the Bengali settlers led by Zia, general
secretary of Mahalchari college unit of the Chattra League, made an
attempt to attack Jumma people in Babu Para and Sluice Gate area. The
settlers were armed with dao, machete and sticks.
They also ransacked the office of the Jana Samhati Samiti (M N Larma) in Mahalchari bazar.
The
attack left five Jumma students, including a female student, wounded.
They have been identified as Binit Khisha, 20, son of Basant Khisha,
Milton Chakma, 20, son of Joyonta Chakma, Ananyo Chakma, 20, son of Kalo
Baran Chakma, Mraksha Chakma and Sumedh Khisha son of Amaresh Khisha.
-----------------