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Miscreants set fire to the houses of indigenous people in Suridaspara area under Burighat union of Naniarchar, Rangamati Tuesday morning. Photo: Suprio Chakma
Bangalee settlers vandalised and set fire to houses, shops and a Buddhist temple of the indigenous people in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati this morning.
According to officials, the settlers carried out the attack after leveling allegations of damaging pineapple seedlings against the indigenous people, reports a correspondent from Rangamati.
Miscreants vandalise the houses of indigenous people in Suridaspara area under Burighat union of Naniarchar, Rangamati Tuesday morning. Photo: Suprio Chakma
Mostafa Kamal, deputy commissioner of Rangamati, said some 4 lakh pineapple seedlings of the settlers were damaged in the incident.
“Seven shops, 10-12 houses and some jum houses of the ethnic people were set on fire,” the official said adding that a number of 43 people were affected in the incident.
However, the indigenous people claimed that the attackers torched over 50 houses in three villages – Suridapara, Camppara and Amtola.
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Miscreants vandalise the Buddhist temple of indigenous people in Suridaspara area under Burighat union of Naniarchar, Rangamati Tuesday morning. Photo: Suprio Chakma
Besides, a Buddhist temple named ‘Koruna Bihar’ and some 50 other houses were vandalised and looted by the Bangalees, they added.
The three villages are situated within a span of one kilometer along the Rangamati-Khagrachhari road where Bangalee settlers have developed pineapple fields. Unidentified people last night damaged those plants but the Bangalees put the blame on the ethnic people.
Miscreants set fire to the houses of indigenous people in Suridaspara area under Burighat union of Naniarchar, Rangamati Tuesday morning. Photo: Suprio Chakma
During the around hour-long attacks, the ethnic people fled away and took shelter in jungles and they came back to their villages after the attackers left police and administration officials went there, they added.
Victim shopkeeper Lakkhirita Chakma, head of Suridapara village Ram Karbari and villagers Sanjib Chakma and Hekumar Chakma, said they did not know anything about the damage of the pineapple seedlings adding that they could save nothing as the attacks were carried out all on a sudden.
Miscreants vandalise the Buddhist idol attacking a temple of indigenous people in Suridaspara area under Burighat union of Naniarchar, Rangamati Tuesday. Photo: Suprio Chakma
Visiting the villages around 12:30pm, the reporter saw different jum houses burning. Chandala Debi Chakma, who was crying standing beside a burning jum house, said, “At least 125 mounds of rice were gutted in the fire. We are yet to star eating from the new rice. How will we survive now? Why have we been attacked?”
Local police and administration officials and people’s representatives including the DC, Superintendent of Police, Naniarchar upazila parishad chairman Shaktiman Chakma, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Nuruzzaman and Commander of Naniarchar zone of army Lt Col Md Sohel visited the spot.
At a brief meeting, they called upon the ethnic people to maintain peace in the area and assured them of arresting the attackers.
Every victim was provided with Tk 1 lakh from the district administration. Besides, the deputy commissioner assured that they will be provided with corrugated iron sheets for building houses and other relief materials including blankets.
Immediately after the incident, United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) blocked the Rangamati-Khagrachhari road, suspending vehicular movement. Later, police and army were deployed in the area.
In separate statements, UPDF and Parbatya Chattagram Nagorik Committee strongly condemned the incident and demanded arrest and punishment of the culprits.
DAILY STAR
Published: 5:52 pm Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Last modified: 7:34 pm Tuesday, December 16, 2014
