It took just one murder to change everything. The once peaceful village life, full of innocence, turned into one of apprehension, doubt and uncertainty.

The villagers of Baishari Upor Chakpara under Bandarban's Naikkhongchhari upazila are passing sleepless nights of fear and anxiety since the murder of U Damma Oaing Cha Bhikkhu, a religious leader of the community, on May 14.

The 73-year-old Buddhist monk was found dead with his throat slit at Baishari Upor Chakpara Natun Chand Nirvana Buddha Vihar, his temple, some 250 yards from Upor Chakpara, where the monk's family members and villagers live.

 "After the murder of our religious leader we feel insecure. We are passing sleepless nights. We want relief from this tension and anxiety," said Mong Kyaw Hla Chak, the karbari (village head) of Baishari Upor Chakpara.

 "The villagers guard the temple and me every night, as fear perturbs our mind and we don't know how long this situation will prevail," said 80-year-old U Damma Teja Bhikku, chief monk of Upor Chakpara Buddha Vihar.

The victim's son, Aung Sa Thoai Chak, among others of the village, urged for immediate remedy of their agony. He demanded that the law enforcement agencies reveal as early as possible the reason behind the brutal killing of the monk, who had chosen to live in seclusion to attain Buddhist wisdom.

Aung Sa Thoai Chak said his father was the only 'Vante' (monk) in the Chak community.

"He was popular among the locals, who respected him a lot," he said, adding dispute over religious leadership of the community might be a reason behind the murder.

The victim's son, however, said his father had no hostility with U Damma Teja, the chief monk of Baishari Upor Chakpara temple, but Teja might know the reason behind killing of Oaing Cha.

Law enforcers, on the other hand, are yet to make any headway in this case.

"Though we arrested four people including two men from the Rohingya community in this connection, the arrestees did not confess anything regarding the murder till now", said Mizanur Rahman, Superintendent of Bandarban police.

"We are investigating the incident keeping in mind religious dispute and militant links among other things, he added.

U Damma Teja, who came from the Rakhaine community of Myanmar, denied allegations of religious dispute. He said Oaing Cha was his disciple and the duo had a preacher-disciple relationship.

 "We cannot believe that an elderly monk like Teja, who has a good reputation in our village might have involvement in the killing of another monk, who had no enmity with others including Teja," said Aung Nu Thoai Chak.

"If a religious leader could be killed in such a remote area, how we can say, we are safe? We are really under threat and the innocence of our life turned into a fearful experience," said Thoai Sa Hla Chak, a resident of the area.             

 "Natun Chand Nirvana Buddha Vihar now looks like a deserted praying house because the devotees keep a distance from practicing Dhamma (the teachings of Buddha) there, after the incident" said Damma Teja, the chief monk.