We are still being threatened: 2 Hill Women Leaders
Recently released two leaders of Hill Women's Federation (HWF), who were abducted on March 18, today said they are still receiving life threats from the abductors.
Addressing a press conference in Dhaka, Manti Chakma, secretary general of Hill Women Federation, and Doya Sona Chakma, Rangamati unit general secretary of the platform, who were released on March 19, said the abductors threatened that they would have to face dire consequences if they get involved in politics or reveal information about the abductors.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. They claimed that the abductors belonged to a newly formed armed group known as Mukhos Bahini (Masked group) and another faction of Jana Sanghati Samati (JSS-MN Larma), who got support from local law enforcers.
“They handed over us to our guardians under three conditions –we would never get involved in politics, we would not leave our village and reveal their identities otherwise our family members would be punished,” said Manti, who hails from Mora Chenge village in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati.
“Even they threatened my family yesterday over phone and asked them to leave the house otherwise they (abductors) would kill my mother and brother,” she said.
“The criminals are threatening my father and elder brother to oust us from our village area since I left from my home,” claimed Manti.
The abductors moved from one village to another village for 33 days keeping two women leaders as hostage with them using road transport and water transports but they never faced any obstacle, not even their vehicles were checked, said Manti Chakma in the press conference.
The press conference was organised by a total of 19 rights organisations at the auditorium of Jatiya Press Club in the capital. They also pressed an eight-point demand. The demands include exemplary punishment of abductors and ensure safety and security for their family members.
Case filed
Doya’s father filed a case in this connection against 19 members of UPDF (Mukhosh Bahini) and JSS-MN Larma, according to Hill Women's Federation president Nirupa Chakma.
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