Clash between Jumma and Bengali settlers in Ramgarh

Report submitted by:
PCJSS (Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti)
Kalyanpur, Rangamati-450000, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Tel+Fax: +880-351-61248
E-mail: pcjss.org@gmail.com, pcjss@hotmail.com
Website: pcjss-cht.org

On 14 June 2009 clash between Jumma villagers and Bengali settlers occurred at Jalia Para under Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachari district. It is learnt that Bengali settlers from Jalia Para cluster village have been trying to occupy the land of Jumma villagers at Baroitali area of Baroitali mouza and Hafchari union under Ramgarh upazila. Baroitali area is around 8 kms far from Jalia Para cluster village. Very recently on 7th June Bengali settlers cleaned the scrubs and erected at least 15 houses. Again 14 th June early in the morning, a group of Bengali settlers numbering around 70 persons went to the area and started to build houses. But the Jumma villagers opposed them to construct houses. At a stage, clash between two groups started and at least 10 Bengali settlers were injured in the clash. They were admitted to Guimara hospital.
Soon after receiving this news, Bengali settlers of Jalia Para and Guimara cluster made attack on innocent Jumma people indiscriminately at Jalia Para area on Khagrachari-Chittagong road.
Sources said that five Marma rickshaw pullers were beat by the Bengali settlers at Jalia Para area. Among them, two injured rickshaw pullers were identified as Thoihla Prue Marma (35), s/o Aungyajai Marma of Labrechai Headman Para of Guimara union and Apruesi Marma (35), s/o Remrachai Marma of Lubre Para of Guimara.
It is reported that Dhanadas Tripura (21), s/o Sukumar Tripura of Sindhukchari village of Sindhukchari union under Mahalchari upazila was brutally beaten by a group of Bengali settlers with firewood and iron rod when he (Mr. Tripura) reached there. However, he could narrowly escape. He was seriously wounded.
Bengali settlers from Jalia Para and Guimara cluster gathered to attack the Jumma villagers of Baroitali area. However, the military forces resisted them from the attack. On the other, Mr. Jatindra Lal Tripura, MP from Khagrachari district and Chairman of the Task Force on Rehabilitation of Returnee Jumma Refugees and IDPs called both communities to refrain any retaliation.
It is also learnt that most of the Jumma villagers nearby Jalia Para area took shelter into the remote Jumma villages fearing further attack.
It is mentionable that in 1981-82 Government settled down Bengali settler families who were brought from plain districts and gave land deed without taking approval of Headman of Baghaichari mouza. Due to military attack by the then Shanti Bahini, Bengali settlers were closed to cluster village near army camp. However, since 2000 Bengali settlers started to occupy these lands in different parts of the CHT. With this backdrop, on 1 March 2001 Ministry of CHT Affairs (MoCHTA) issued an office order prohibiting expansion of settlement and asking both Jumma and Bengali settlers to maintain status quo until and unless the disputes are resolved by Land Commission to be formed as per CHT Accord.

A Jumma youth shot in Rangamati

On 13 June 2009 around 8.00 p.m. a Jumma youth named Kallol Chakma (23), s/o Prabhat Chakma of Banarupa in Rangamati town was shot by unidentified miscreants at Samataghat under Banarupa area. It is learnt that Mr. Kallol Chakma is a drug addicted. Locals said that this incident might be happened due to conflict among the drug addicted. Locals claimed that Kallol Chakma has been leading a drug addicted group in this area for long time. An armed clash among the drug addicted youths was happened at the same on 2 May 2009 where Mr. Rani Chakma and Sajal Chakma were injured.