The body of former vice president of Awami League’s (AL) Bandarban town unit was found in a hilly remote area of Kuhalong union in Sadar upazila yesterday noon.

The AL leader, Chaw Thowai Mong Marma, 53, was allegedly abducted from his farmhouse on Wednesday night. He was also a former commissioner of Ward 5 in Bandarban town.

Being informed by locals, police went to the spot around 2:00pm and recovered the body.

Chaw Thowai’s wife Mya Sa Ching Marma said on Wednesday around 8:45pm, a group of unidentified criminals picked up her husband at gunpoint from their farmhouse near Uji Headman Para area under Sadar upazila.

The incident took place in front of her, she said, adding, “The criminals also beat me up that night when I resisted. They killed my husband... I want justice.”  

Demanding arrest of the criminals, AL’s Bandarban district unit President Kwe Shwe Hla claimed that an armed group of Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samity (PCJSS) is responsible for the abduction and murder of Chaw Thowai.

KS Mong Marma, a central leader of PCJSS, refuted the allegation, saying, “Since the last parliament election, ruling party leaders with the help of law enforcement agencies have been sheltering criminal gangs for abduction, extortion, and murder of innocent hill people including the PCJSS men.”

On May 7, a member of PCJSS was shot dead and another PCJSS man was abducted from Rajbilla area of Sadar upazila.

On May 9, another supporter of PCJSS was shot dead by a group of armed men in Bakichhara rubber garden area of the same upazila.

On May 19, brother of an AL leader was shot dead at Rajbilla while a local Jubo League leader was shot dead in his house in Rajasthali upazila of Rangamati.

Shahidul Islam, OC of Bandarban Sadar police station, yesterday said they detained KS Mong Marma, joint organising secretary of PCJSS central unit; Kyawba Marma, secretary of PCJSS Bandarban unit; Thoai Hla Prue Marma, headman of Kolakyong Mouza; Mong Hla Tripura, Karbari of Jordan Para; and Hla Ching Mong Marma, Karbari of Uji Mukh  Para.

The individuals have been detained for interrogation over the murder of Chaw Thowai, the OC added.

Meanwhile, Bandarban district unit of AL has called a half-day hartal in Bandarban, protesting the murder.

Uchow Mong Marma, president of PCJSS in Bandarban, said, “We strongly protest the arrest of our leaders and innocent hill people who are not involved in the AL leader’s murder.”