11 HWF activists 'abducted', freed
PCJSS refutes kidnap charge, blames 'unknown goons'
Eleven activists of Hill Women's Federation (HWF) were freed early yesterday five hours after they were abducted allegedly by the members of pro-peace treaty Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) from Somotaghat in the town.
The activists are Juthika Chakma, Shipa Chakma, Lili Chakma, Binota Chakma, Richi Chakma, Nipa Chakma, Bipasha Chakma, Eki Chakma, Jeki Chakma, Helpi Chakma and Lipika Chakma.
HWF is an associate body of anti-peace treaty United People's Democratic Front (UPDF).
According to Kotwali police station sources, PCJSS members picked up the female activists at gun point at about 8:00pm Monday when they reached Somotaghat on their way to Dhaka by an engine boat from Naniachar upazila.
Then the kidnappers took the eleven to Rangapani village in the town.
Later, they freed them on condition that they would not do UPDF politics in future, police said.
“PCJSS members waylaid us at Somotaghat and forcibly took us to Rangapani by five CNG-run auto-rickshaws. Later, they released us on condition of staying away from UPDF,” Juthika, convenor of HWF Rangamati district unit, said.
Nirupa Chakma and Konika Dewan, vice-president and secretary of HWF central unit, in a joint statement yesterday bitterly condemned the incident and demanded exemplary punishment of the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, Sajib Chakma, assistant information secretary of PCJSS, refuting the allegation said, “Our party has no involvement with this incident. So far I know, they were picked up by unknown goons.”
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