""

Army Prevents Journalists from Attending Press Conference Demanding Release of Three Abducted Villagers in Sajek

Baghaichhari Correspondent, CHT News
Tuesday, September 2, 2025

On July 1, 2025, six villagers from Rangapani Chara village in Ward 6 of Sajek Union, Rangamati, were abducted by the JSS (Santu Group). Of them, three managed to escape captivity on August 26, 2025.

A press conference was scheduled today, Tuesday (September 2, 2025), at Uzo Bazar in Sajek, organized by the Sajek Gano Adhikar Raksha Committee (Sajek Public Rights Protection Committee), demanding the rescue of the remaining three villagers. However, the army allegedly did not allow journalists to attend the press conference.

According to reports, journalists from various print and electronic media were intercepted by the army at Dighinala army zone while on their way to the event. They were first seated at Golghar (reception room), then called into the office of the zone commander. Lieutenant Colonel Md. Omar Faruk (4 Bengal), commander of Dighinala Zone, spoke to the journalists, offered them tea and snacks, and ultimately instructed them not to proceed to Sajek.

When the journalists failed to arrive, organizers contacted them by phone. One electronic media journalist confirmed that they had been detained at Dighinala Zone and sent back, making it impossible for them to attend the event.

Thereafter, around 2 PM, a brief meeting was held instead with the elders present, where the three villagers who had escaped shared their experiences.

The six abducted individuals were:

1. Dhan Moni Chakma (20), son of Manjugulo Chakma

2. Som Bikash Chakma (27), son of Punong Chan Chakma

3. Subesh Chakma (27), son of Manjugulo Chakma

4. Bhanga Hada Chakma (45), father unknown

5. Lakhi Shanti Chakma (48), son of Kina Chan Chakma

6. Khuliya Chakma (38), son of Ade Chandra Chakma

All are residents of Rangapani Chara and are ordinary jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivators.

Although there had been no trace of them for nearly two months, on August 26, three—Dhan Moni Chakma, Som Bikash Chakma, and Subesh Chakma—escaped from the captivity of the Santu Group. The whereabouts of the other three remain unknown.

According to the escapees, those involved in the abduction were Vikram Chakma (armed group commander under Santu Larma), Barun Chakma, Simon Chakma, and their group.

To raise awareness and demand the rescue of the remaining abductees, the Sajek Public Rights Protection Committee organized the press conference at Uzo Bazar, inviting media personnel. However, due to army obstruction, the journalists could not be present. A brief meeting was held instead, attended by:

Mahendra Tripura (Convener, Sajek Public Rights Protection Committee)

Babudhan Chakma (Member Secretary)

Natun Joy Chakma (President, Sajek Karbari Association)

Jyoti Lal Chakma (President, Jhum Farmers Welfare Association)

Broj Kumar Chakma (President, Sajek Land Protection Committee)

Other respected local figures

During the meeting, the three individuals who escaped from JSS captivity described their ordeal.

Both Mahendra Tripura and Babudhan Chakma condemned and protested the army’s obstruction of the press conference.

Babudhan Chakma stated, “Based on what we heard from the three, it is clear they are innocent and helpless villagers. They were abducted and tortured on false accusations by Santu Larma’s armed group, nearly pushed to death. We strongly condemn and protest this incident and demand the immediate rescue of the remaining three still held hostage.”

He also urged the Santu Group to stop such heinous acts and instead work for the welfare of the people.

Mahendra Tripura said, “These three survived by sheer luck.” He demanded their rehabilitation.

Details of the Captivity:

The three escapees reported that they were lured to Udaypur by Vikram Chakma under the pretense of a meeting, and then detained. For the first two days, they were chained and brutally beaten in a village called Tholchara. On the third night, they were taken by vehicle to a remote bamboo-thatched hut in a village northeast of Dojor Bazar, where they were chained and held at the house of a man named Milon Chakma (alias Hega).

During this time, local villagers from three nearby areas guarded them in shifts—four at night, four during the day. The escapees had no knowledge of the whereabouts of the other three abductees.

They said, “We were constantly anxious. Some of the guards would say we’d be killed, others said we’d be released. This kept us in constant fear.”

They continued, “Finally, on the night of August 26, we managed to escape. We didn’t know the roads or terrain. We went three days and three nights without food, surviving only on wild snails, crabs, and bamboo shoots from the stream. On August 29, we finally reached home.”

They are now reportedly suffering from various physical ailments.

The meeting ended with five demands, which include:

1. Bring the abductors to justice.

2. Take immediate action to rescue the three remaining abducted villagers.

3. Ensure future safety and rehabilitation (including financial support) for the three escapees.

4. Release the three escapees’ families, who are still under house arrest of the JSS.

5. The administration must take strict measures to stop the Santu Group’s anti-people activities such as killings, disappearances, abductions, and extortion across Sajek as well as other parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

-----------------





0/Post a Comment/Comments