Hill Voice, 2 March 2023, Bandarban: It is alleged that incidents of threatening the villagers to leave their respective villages, abducting 4 Tanchangya villagers and release them after harassment of two days, camping at least in 2 school house by Bawm Party, closure of at least 6 primary schools due to threatening of by Bawm Party armed terrorists have taken place.

According to local sources, 4 Tanchangya villagers including Karbari (village head) from Gangachara (Tiger Para) of Bortholi Union of Bilaichhari Upazila of Rangamati, went to meet the KNF at Arthah Para of Paindu Union in Ruma on February 26 at the behest of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) known as Bawm Party.

At that time, Bawm Party terrorists ordered Tanchangya villagers to leave their village. The KNF threatened that in the next one month they would launch a combing operation against the army in Bortholi, Mannuam Para and nearby army camps. At this time, they will shoot whoever they find in front of them. Even child-aged people will not give up.

However, after a month of combing operations, from next April 27, everyone will be able to return to their respective villages and work in their respective Jum-farm, the Bawm Party terrorists said.

The Bawm Party terrorists released the 4 Tanchangya villagers who had gone to meet them after harassment for two days on February 28. The victims are the villagers of Gangachara – Kalindra Tanchangya (58) son of Purihit Tanchangya, Ruidhan Tanchangya (55) of Suranga Tanchangya, Aldwaga Tanchangya (46) son of Lojeong Tanchangya and Noiya Tanchangya (39) son of Jugamon Tanchangya.

Local sources also said that the Bawm Party terrorists have occupied Mualpi Para Government Primary School and Pakniar Para Government Primary School of Paindu Union in Ruma and have camped themselves there.

Due to the threatening of Bawm Party, the students of Mualpi Para Government Primary School, Artah Para Government Primary School and Bastlang Para Government Primary School of Paindu Union, and Paknier Para Government Primary School, Munnuam Para Government Primary School and Jespai Government Primary School of Remakri Prangsa Union have stopped going to school. As a result, these 6 schools are almost closed at present.

It is to be noted that this Bawm Party was formed in 2008 naming Kuki-Chin National Development Organization (KNDO) with the help and shelter of the army in order to create division among the Jumma people based on the policy of ‘divide and rule’ and to oppose the movement for implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord as well as rights to self-determination of the Jumma people led by the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti. Then in 2016, the name of this organization was changed to Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF).

But at one stage from 2020, Bawm Party started providing shelter and military training to the international Islamic terrorist organization called ‘Jamaatul Ansar Hill Findal Sharqiya’ in their hideout in remote area of Ruma in exchange of money. As a result, under international pressure, from October 2022, the joint forces started operation against the armed militants of Jamaat-ul-Ansar Hill Findal Sharqeera and the armed terrorists of Bawm Party who gave shelter to Islamic militant.

After that, Bawm Party terrorists continue to evict the villagers of Ruma, Rowangchari and Bilaichari upazilas through various threats and harassment and force the villagers of Bawm community to take shelter as refugees in Mizoram state of India in order to gain sympathy at home and abroad.

As a result, from November 2022, many people of the Bawm community started taking shelter as refugees in the Bangladesh-India border village of Chawngte sub-division of Lawngtlang district of Mizoram state. As a result, 215 people of Bawm community in Parva-III area, 68 people in Chawmdur Project area, 46 people in Mautlang area, 60 people in Vathuampui area, 101 people in Hmawngbu area, 10 people in South Bungtlang area, 29 people in Hruitezawl area and 12 people of Bawm Community in Hmunnuam area have taken refuge as refugees.

Since last year, 22 people have been abducted, at least 7 people have been killed, and 1,000 residents of Bawm, Tanchangya, Tripura and Marma communities have been evicted from nearly two dozen villages.