Protest rally in Indian state of Tripura against the attack on Jumma village

Hill Voice, 17 July 2022, International Desk: A protest procession and rally was held in Kanchanpur under North Tripura district of Indian state of Tripura, with the participation of Chakma men and women from all walks of life, in protest against the burning and looting of 37 houses of Jumma villagers by Muslim settlers in Mahalachari of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

Today, Sunday (17 July 2022) around 12:00 PM, this protest march and rally has been organized by Kanchanpur branch of ‘Tripura Chakma Students Association’ at Kanchanpur subdivision headquarters of North Tripura district. First, a procession was taken out on the main road of Kanchanpur with the banner of the organization and chanting various slogans, and after the procession, a demonstration was held in front of the Kanchanpur Super Market.

General Secretary of Tripura Chakma Students Association Subal Chakma, former president Engineer Aniruddha Chakma and others addressed the gathering while Panth Chakma, organizing secretary of Tripura Chakma Students Association facilitated the event.

The leaders said that recently 37 houses of indigenous Jumma people in Khagrachari of Chittagong Hill Tracts have been burnt to ashes and looted. Such incidents are happening there every year. We have gathered here to protest against that.

The leaders added that attacks on religious minorities such as Hindus, Buddhists, Christians are often taking place in Bangladesh. Mothers and sisters cannot move freely. They often face torture. These minority people have to fight again and again for their rights.

The leaders also said that the houses and Buddhist temples of more than two hundred Jumma villagers were burnt in Longadu on June 2, 2017. These attacks are not only carried out by Muslim Bengali settlers, but the army and police administration there also incite and support these attacking Muslim settlers.

The leaders strongly condemned the heinous actions of the attacking Muslim settlers and the army.

The leaders call upon the government of Bangladesh to immediately arrest and take necessary legal action against the culprits who were involved in the heinous act of setting fire to 37 houses of indigenous Jumma villagers, ransacking houses and looting by outsider Muslim settlers in Jaisen Para of Maischari union in Mahalachari upazila of Khagrachari district on July 5, 2022.

The leaders warned of a larger movement against the conspiracies of Sheikh Hasina’s government and the Bangladesh army if these incidents are not prosecuted and stopped. They called upon the Bangladesh government to relocate Muslim Bengali settlers from the Chittagong Hill Tracts and to withdraw the Bangladesh Army from the region.