Hill Voice, 11 August 2024, Bandarban: Recently, the army-backed UPDF (Democratic) and Reformist terrorists have allegedly involved in massive extortion and collecting huge ransom after abduction in Bandarban hill district.

According to local sources, on August 8 (2024) at around 9:00 am, the UPDF (Democratic) and the Reformist terrorists extorted money from a cargo truck on the Chittagong-Bandarban road at Suwalak Rastamatha area of Bandarban Sadar Upazila. Hearing the news, the indigenous and the Bengali residents rushed to the spot and beat twos after apprehending them. At one stage, the army personnel came in a vehicle and rescued them, and picked them up with them. While leaving, the army personnel ordered the locals not to disclose the matter anywhere.

One of the terrorists was identified as Numang Marma (30) from Rajastali Upazila and the other was a Khiang youth (name unknown) from Khiang community.

On the other hand, on July 16, 2024 at 7 am, another group of the UPDF (Democratic) and the Reformist terrorists led by Atal Chakma (40) abducted a Mongting Marma (38) on his way back home from ‘Eco-valley Resort’ in Suwalak area of Bandarban Sadar. Mongting Marma is known to be the owner of the ‘Eco-valley Resort’.

Abducted Mongting Marma, the son of Mongthwaiching Marma, is the headman of Suwalak Mouza and lives in Suwalak Para.

It is learned that on July 18, the abductors phoned Mongting Marma’s father Headman Mongthwaiching Marma and demanded Tk 1 crore as ransom for his son.

After that, Mongting Marma’s relatives and local people started searching for the victim in the surrounding forests. Then, Atal Chakma phoned headman Mongthwaiching Marma that “Don’t search too much. You will not come to the forest. Otherwise I will shoot you.”

Later, Atal Chakma demanded Tk 65 lakhs from the headman over phone, saying in failure, he will have to take the dead body of his son.

Reportedly, on July 23, headman Mongthoiching Marma had no way but to pay the ransom of Tk 65 lakh to the abductors for the release of his son, and on the same day, the terrorists dropped the victim by vehicle at Suwalak Para village at mid night.

Meanwhile, after the release for ransom, the leader of the UPDF (Democratic) and the Reformist terrorists in Bandarban, Mongpu Hedman (the headman of Nawapatong Mouza) was seen shopping various valuables including a fridge for his house. According to local residents, Mongpu headman bought those luxury items with the ransom money.

It is also known that on August 5, a group of Jeep-CNG drivers being fed up with extortion by the UPDF (Democratic) and Reformist terrorists in Bandarban Sadar, went to Balaghata area and demolished a den and extortion post of them in Balagata.