Hill Voice, May 22, 2020, Bandarban:  It has been alleged that a group of army personnel conducted a late night search at Thanchangya village called Natingjhiri in Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban district.

It is learnt that the sleeping villagers were woken up and interrogated and harassed. This has caused panic in the area.

According to local sources, on May 22, 2020 Friday from 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm, a group of 20-25 army personnel from the Rowangchhari Army Camp carried out the operation at the village of Natingjhiri of Ward No. 3 of Alekkhyong Union in Rowangchhari Upazila.

In the darkness of the night, the army woke up the sleeping people (men and women) from each house of the village and gathered them in one place.

The army asked the villagers whether the terrorists came, why the news was not given to the camp even after the terrorists came etc.

Army members later threatened to shoot the villagers if they do not report to the camp if terrorists come.

At one stage, a college girl of the village protested against the army harassment and the army members got into an altercation with her.

It is learnt that while the army personnel were leaving the village, they ordered the local Karbari (village head) to present at the army camp with the girl today (22 May).

Earlier in the beginning of this month, for three consecutive nights, the troops of Rowangchhari army camp raided several villages including Nitingjhiri of Thanchangya community in Rowangchhari and similarly woke up the villagers and gathered them in one place. During that time, at least 23 houses were searched and 6 people were harassed by the army.

In the wake of the Corona epidemic, the army has been conducting raids, harassment, beatings and illegal arrests in various parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The local villagers have complained that the repression of the army is becoming more and more horrific as these incidents of military atrocities remain behind the national media coverage.