Khagrachhari still in panic

Khagrachhari town remains gripped by fear after two brazen gun attacks in public areas led to the murder of seven people.

Against this backdrop, a week-long joint drive has started in Khagrachhari from yesterday to arrest those responsible for the seven murders in the hill town on Saturday.

Additional Police Super of Khagrachhari MM Salauddin said a joint drive against the criminals started from Sunday, with initially criminal hotspots being raided by army, BGB, armed police and police members. He added that a large scale drive would start soon. 

Though seven persons were killed when miscreants opened fire in a market place and a subsequent protest following the attacks on Saturday, no case was filed with Khagrachhari Sadar Thana till 5:00pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Shahidul Islam exchanged views with influential locals of the town at his office yesterday.

He said the administration would investigate into the matter so that the killers did not get away.

The district administration has already formed a five-member probe committee led by Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Abu Yusuf.  It has been asked to submit its report within seven working days.

The setting also served as an orientation meeting for the new deputy commissioner of the district. 

Shahidul Islam joined as the DC of Khagrachhari district on August 9.

Three organisations Pahari Chhatra Parishad,  Ganotantrik Jubo Forum and Hill Women's Federation,  supported by United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), announced a half day road blockade programme in Khagrachhari district today.

Elsewhere, Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission, a body working on the rights of indigenous people of CHT, released a statement condemning the gun attacks in Khagrachhari. 

Failure of proper and neutral investigation in identifying the perpetrators and lack of justice leads to the continuation of killings in broad daylight, the statement, signed by its co-chairpersons Sultana Kamal, Elsa Stamatapoulou and Myrna Cunningham said.   

VICTIMS LAID TO REST

The last rites of the seven victims were performed yesterday.

Khagrachhari Sadar Thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahadat Hossain Tito said the bodies of four killed were handed over to their relatives on Saturday. The remaining three were given yesterday.

On a spot visit to the house of Jitayan Chakma, a health assistant who was killed at Uttar Khabangparia area in Khagrachhari Sadar yesterday morning, the family members were seen yet to come to terms with the death of the sole earning member of the family. 

Jitayan Chakma left behind three daughters -- Julie, Polly and Onnesha.  Julie had just completed a diploma engineering course, Polly is a second year degree (pass) course student and Onnesha is a student of class eight at Khagrachhari Cantonment Public School and College.

Polly said her father began the day like usual by showering and leaving for Swanirvar Bazar for breakfast, where the attack took place and left him dead.

She said he sustained a bullet injury to his elbow and alleged that he was taken to the hospital one and a half hours after the attack.

She claimed he was alive when he was taken on the police van. 

Quoting a witness who was with her father at the time, Polly said if police had taken her father to hospital sooner, there was chance that he would have survived. 

She said the other man who was with her father had also sustained a bullet injury on the leg and was now under treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Nayanmoy Tripura, resident physician of Khagrachhari District Sadar Hospital, said Jitayan Chakma sustained a bullet injury on the elbow of his right hand.  There were also marks of injuries on his head.

The last rites of Jityan Chakma and Rupam Chakma were held at Uttar Khabongparia grand crematorium at Khagrachhari Sadar.

The rites of the Tapan Chakma, Elton Chakma and Palash Chakma were held at Dakkhin Khabongparia grand crematorium yesterday afternoon.

The last rites of Sono Kumar Chakma was held at Shib Mandir of Khagrachhari Sadar and that of Dhiraj Chakma were held at the crematorium at his home in Ugalchhari under Panchhari upazila.