Hill Voice, 12 July 2022, Bandarban: It has been alleged that an innocent Marma villager was allegedly attempted to stab to death by three outsider Bengali youths in Rupashi Union of Lama Upazila under Bandarban Hill District. It is learnt that the miscreants tried to kill the Marma villager and seriously injured him as he was a witness in a rape case.

The incident took place in Hatirjhiri area on the side of Shilertua to Rupashipara road in Rupashipara Union at around 10:00 pm on July 11, 2022.

The injured Marma villager was identified as Mongyong Thoai Marma (35), son of Mongchahla Marma. His permanent home is in Babu Para village of ward no. 6 of No.3 Nayapara union in Alikadam upazila. He is currently living with his wife and children in a rented house at Rupashipara Bazar in Rupashipara Union. He is a motorcycle driver by profession.

According to the victim’s sources, three miscreant Bengali youths named Md. Putia, Md. Saimon and Md. Jamal Hossain of Rupashipara Bazar rented the motorcycle of Mongyong Thoai Marma to go to Shilertua at around 9:00 pm, yesterday. Among the three passengers, the youth named Putia was already known, so Mongyong Thoai Marma agreed to take them.

On the way to Hatirjhiri, the three passengers told Mongyong Thoai Marma to stop the motorcycle and started stabbing him at random. The miscreants Putia and Md. Simon held the hand of Mongyong Thoai Marma and Md. Jamal Hossain stabbed him. At one point, while preparing to slaughter him tying his hands and feet, the miscreants suddenly saw another motorcycle coming on along the road and then fled in the forest leaving him there. Mongyong Thoai was later rescued by those people of another motorcycle and relatives and taken to Lama Hospital at around 10:30 pm.

Dr Mesbah Uddin, a medical officer in charge of the emergency department at Lama Hospital said the injured youth had seven stab wounds in the front (chest) and two in the back. Knives were driven to the gut and entrails were come out. The injured person has been shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital as he was in critical condition. There has been a lot of bleeding.

Injured Mongyong Thoai Marma said, “Jamal Hossain was asking me while stabbing if I would ever be a witness in a case?” A few days ago, I was made a witness in the case of rape of a housewife in No.5 Ward of Rupashipara Union. That is why the accused Gias Uddin’s brother Md. Jamal Hossain has made this incident with hired people.

Meanwhile, shortly after the incident, the three terrorists tried to flee to Shilertua with the rented motorcycle. After receiving a phone call from the people of Rupashipara Bazar about the incident, the locals set up a street guard in Shilertua area and detained the two suspects. The locals rescued the knife and the rented motorcycle from them. Later, when the police of Lama police station appeared at the scene the two suspected miscreants including knives and the motorcycle were handed over to them.

The detainees are: Md. Jamal Hossain (28), son of Abul Kalam, village- East Pukkhali, No.1 Ward, Eidgaon Union, Upazila-Eidgaon, District-Cox’s Bazar and Md. Saimon (25), son of Md. Harunur Rashid, Village- Purbo Gumathali , No.9 Ward, Eidgaon Union, Upazila-Eidgaon, District-Cox’s Bazar. The other miscreant Putia was chased by the crowd to catch red handed but somehow he managed to flee scene.

Local ward member Abu Taher said, “I came in rush on hearing the news.” I demand justice for attacking and injuring a poor motorcycle driver in this way.

Mollah Ramiz Jahan Jumma, sub-inspector of Lama Police said that the crowd detained the two miscreants and handed over to us. We also took over knife and the motorcycle. Legal action will be taken against them.