Khagrachhari schoolboy dies as blockaders attack mini-truck

A schoolboy was killed and his classmate injured after falling down from a mini-truck when the vehicle came under the attack of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) activists during a road blockade in Khagrachhari Sadar this morning.

The deceased was identified as Praneshwar Tripura, 14, a class VII student of Khagrachhari Ideal High School and son of Mojit Bikash Tripura of the Sadar upazila, reports our Khagrachhari correspondent.

Shamsuddin Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, told The Daily Star that as there was no public transport in the area due to the strike, some of the people boarded the mini-truck to reach their destinations.

As the truck reached near No. 3 Rubber Bagan area around 8:30am, the activists of UPDF started hurling brick chips on the vehicle.  

As the passengers were hurriedly getting down, Praneshwar fell down from the truck, suffered injuries in the head and died on the spot, the OC said.

Injured Torun Tripura, 12, was admitted to Khagrachhari Sadar Adhunik Hospital, the OC added.

None was arrested in this connection till the report was filed around 11:15am.

The UPDF and its eight associate organisations called the half-day strike last evening demanding release of two leaders and activists of Hill Women’s Federation.