Hill Voice, September 9, 2024, Rangamati: The army have allegedly searched houses of 6 Jumma villages, looted money, vandalized household items and detained one person in a camp in Jurachari Upazila of Rangamati district. Besides, there were also reports of harassing patrol operations conducted by the army in Jumma villages in Balukhali and Mogban Union of Rangamati Sadar Upazila.

According to local sources, today (September 9) around 2:30 pm, an army group numbering 15 to 20 personal led by a commander of Jakkha Bazar Army Camp of Jurachari Upazila Sadar conducted another harassing patrol operation in Balukhalimukh Para (Bihar Para) village of Ward No.1 under Jurachari Union. During this harassing operation, the army personnel searched 6 Jumma houses, vandalized the belongings and snatched away half a lakh taka from a Jumma family.

The victim persons of the harassing operation were: 1. Trinayan Chakma (35), son of- Birolakko Chakma; 2. Runel Chakma Hansraja (30), son of Birolakko Chakma; 3. Birolakko Chakma (58), son of- late Ramani Mohan Chakma; 4. Bhagyadhan Chakma (45), son of- Bilash Kumar Chakma; 5. Arjun Chakma (38), son of- Bilash Kumar Chakma and 6. Debaroy Chakma (38), son of- Bhagya Lakko Chakma.

Allegedly, during the search, the army personnel took away Tk 68,000 from Trinayan Chakma and another Tk 2,000 from Trinayan Chakma’s daughter.

It is also known that while returning to the camp after this harassing search, the army personnel picked Runel Chakma and Arjun Chakma up to the camp. Among them, Arjun Chakma was released later but Runel Chakma is said to be detained in the camp till writing this report.

On the other hand, a few days ago there were reports of army’s conducting harassing patrol operations in Jumma villages in Balukhali and Mogban Union of Rangamati Sadar Upazila.

According to local sources, another group of 10 army personnel led by Subedar Shahadat and Habildar Major Alamgir from Rajmani Para Army Camp of Balukhali Union conducted a patrol operation in Kaindyamukh lake area and Kaindya Mog Bazar area in the morning on September 4. During this harassing operation, the army detained and interrogated the elder brother (name unknown) of local ex-member Sonjoy Chakma for a long time and harassed them.

Later, the army personnel also conducted patrolling and raiding in the area called Guruhaba bordering Balukhali and Mogban Union.

Afterwards, on the same day, another 17-member army group led by Captain Bakhtiar from Gobaghona army camp conducted a patrol operation in Dogey Para village of Mogban Union and ransacked Shubamangal Chakma’s house. At that time Shubamangal Chakma was not at home. Captain Bakhtiar allegedly threatened and harassed his wife. Afterwords, the army also reportedly conducted another harassing search operation in the surrounding area, creating panic among the local Jumma villagers.