Hill Voice, 20 December 2024, Rangamati: It has been alleged that the army conducted a patrol operation and harassed villagers in Balukhali Union of Rangamati Sadar Upazila under Rangamati district and forcibly took photograph of a villager putting a weapon in his hand and several others without weapons on their mobile phones.

It is learnt that the Jumma villagers of the area are worried about the incident. The reason is if the army harass them with the photos later.

According to local sources, on December 18, 2024, at around 9 am, a group of 16-17 soldiers led by Subedar Md. Azad from the Morichyabil Army Camp in Balukhali Union went on a patrol operation in a trawler boat to Badalchari village. Later, they conducted a patrol operation from Badalchari to the Vizakijing area.

Then, from Vizakijing, they returned to Badalchari and took up position at Badalchari Government Primary School. The next day (December 19), at around 3:30 am, the army team went to several Jumma houses in Badalchari village and woke up the people in the house and took photos with their mobile cameras.

Among them, a villager named Priyotan Chakma (26) was forced to hold an army weapon and was photographed by the army on their mobile camera.

Then around noon that day, the army surrounded Rima Chakma’s house. No one was home at the time. Then the army personnel returned to Badalchari Government Primary School. The army team returned to the camp around 3 pm.