At least 17 people, including four soldiers, were injured in a clash between hill people and law enforcers at Dighinala in Khagrachari on Sunday after military had obstructed amarch towards Babuchara demanding the relocation of a Border Guard Bangladesh battalion and rehabilitation of evicted hill people from there.
The military adjutant at Dighinala zone Captain Touhidul Islam said the clash broke out around Sunday noon when a group of hill people took out a march under the ‘Dighinala Land Protection Committee’.
The demonstrators fought pitched battles with police and the army.
Police said they had fired at least 20 ‘blank shots’ to keep order. Witnesses said the soldiers had severely beat up several school students taking part in the march.
The demonstrators said 21 families of hill people were evicted when the BGB’s 51st battalion headquarters was set up at Babucharha last year.
The committee’s convener Paritosh Chakma said they held a scheduled march towards the headquarters to press for the relocation of the BGB battalion, rehabilitation of the tribal families, and the withdrawal of cases against the hill people.
He alleged the army and police barricaded a street at Karbari Tila area and other places where hill people tried to bring out procession.
The Dighinala Bhumi Rakkha Commitee has called a daylong blockade for Monday in protest against the attack on the protesters.
The military adjutant at Dighinala zone Captain Touhidul Islam said the clash broke out around Sunday noon when a group of hill people took out a march under the ‘Dighinala Land Protection Committee’.
The demonstrators fought pitched battles with police and the army.
Police said they had fired at least 20 ‘blank shots’ to keep order. Witnesses said the soldiers had severely beat up several school students taking part in the march.
The demonstrators said 21 families of hill people were evicted when the BGB’s 51st battalion headquarters was set up at Babucharha last year.
The committee’s convener Paritosh Chakma said they held a scheduled march towards the headquarters to press for the relocation of the BGB battalion, rehabilitation of the tribal families, and the withdrawal of cases against the hill people.
He alleged the army and police barricaded a street at Karbari Tila area and other places where hill people tried to bring out procession.
The Dighinala Bhumi Rakkha Commitee has called a daylong blockade for Monday in protest against the attack on the protesters.
Source: New Age
