One UPDF activist injured in militant attack in Ghilachari, Rangamati

A member of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) has been seriously wounded when the government-backed armed militants of the Jana Samhait Samiti carried out a terrorist attack in Ghilachari bazaar, 15 kilometers north-west off Rangamati town.

Today is market day in Gilachari bazaar. The incident occurred at about 12:15 p.m. when a group of JSS militants armed with sophisticated weapons raided the bazaar and started to shower bullets on people. However, UPDF activist Tidikkya Chakma (50) s/o Bano Kumar Chakma of village Hatimara in Burighat was wounded when a JSS militant hit him with a sharp dao (a kind of knife). He got cut wounds in the head and hands. He jumped on and caught hold of a JSS militant, who struggled to shake off him. At that point another JSS man came and hit him with the dao as it was not convenient to shoot.

It has not been immediately known whether any one has been wounded by bullets.

There were lots of army personnel patrolling in the market, but they did nothing to nab the terrorists or to counter the attack. Rather they let the JSS militants to withdraw freely from the scene.

The attack came barely ten days after the United People’s Democratic Front announced general amnesty for the JSS militants, who are responsible for massive human rights violations and death of more than two hundred members and supporters of the UPDF in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Earlier, on 2 and 14 December the JSS militants also shot dead 5 UPDF members in Ramgarh and Dighinala under Khagrachari district.

Prepared by Press Section, Publications and Publicity Department, United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), January 05, 2006, Dhaka.