2 Hill Women Leaders: Back home after a month in captivity

Hill Women Federation leaders Manti Chakma and Doya Sona Chakma returned home yesterday, around a month after being kidnapped from the district.

Manti, general secretary of HWF, went home in Mora Chenge village in the district's Naniarchar upazila while Doya Sona, Rangamati general secretary of the platform, in Sukna Chari village under Kaukhali upazila.

Talking to The Daily Star, Doya Sona alleged that UPDF (democratic) members had picked them up.

“The abductors took us to five places in Rangamati and Khagrachhari, but they didn't hurt us physically. Although they gave us food, we became very tired as we had to move from one place to another. We had been in the forest under the open sky and also in a hut.”

“On 18 March, they took us to Hadamola Ghat in Naniarchar upazila. Two days later, they shifted us to Mahalchhari upazila in Khagrachhari. From there, we were taken to Dighinala upazila and Madhupur area of Khagrachhari,” she added.

The two leaders were freed around 8:30pm on Thursday.

Unidentified criminals abducted the two HWF leaders from Kutukchhari area in Rangamati on March 18 around 9:30am. The criminals attacked the house of Dharma Sing Chakma, president of Rangamati Democratic Youth Forum, and opened fire, leaving him injured.

Kalindi Rani Chakma, mother of Doya Sona, said she was worried about her daughter's fate. “We are very happy now as she has returned home safely.”

The UPDF and UPDF (democratic) are two rival factions.

Rupashi Chakma, president of Hill Women Federation, said criminals abducted their two leaders to stop the UPDF's movement. She said they would continue their movement.

Shyamol Chakma, member secretary of UDPF (democratic), denied the involvement of his organisation in the incident. He said the two leaders were abducted over the UPDF's internal feud.