2 hurt as 'rivals' open fire on UPDF human chain
United People's Democratic front (UPDF), anti-CHT peace treaty organisation, forms a human chain at Ghagra on Rangamati-Chittagong road yesterday demanding constitutional recognition of the indigenous people and repeal of the 15th amendment. Similar human chains were formed on Khagrachhari-Rangamati and Rangamati- Bandarban roads also.Photo: STAR
Two activists of anti-peace accord United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) sustained bullet injuries as rivals opened fire on a human chain formed by the organisation in Laxmichhari upazila yesterday. The injured were identified as Shimul Chakma, 17, and Newton Bikash Chakma,22. UPDF formed the human chain in the upazila headquarters in the morning protesting amendment to constitution terming ethnic communities as 'Bagalees' and demanding constitutional rights. All of a sudden, a gang of unidentified criminals fired indiscriminately on the people taking part in the programme, leaving two injured at about 12:30pm. Of the injured, Shimul was admitted to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital while the other injured took treatment locally. Local people said both of them are activists of UPDF. The motive behind the gun attack could not be known immediately. However, Niron Chakma, press secretary of UPDF claimed that their rival Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) activists unleashed the attack. Contacted, Shaktipada Tripura, organising secretary of central PCJSS refuted the allegation and said UPDF internal conflict might be the reason behind the attack. Superintendent of Khagrachhari district police Abu Kalam Siddique said they deployed additional forces in the area to avoid further violence. UPDF declared a two-day road and waterway blockade programme from July 20 in Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts protesting 'imposition of Bangalee nationalism' on the indigenous people. Meanwhile, Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP), student wing of UPDF, called a student strike on July 14 in Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati hill districts.
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