Miscreants allegedly assaulted 16 construction workers in Guimara upazila of Khagrachhari on Sunday afternoon after failing to receive extortion money for a road development project. The incident took place at Sindukchhari union while the workers were engaged in constructing a new road.
Nishan Marma, a leader of United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) main group, has been held responsible for the attack. According to the victims, three armed individuals led by Nishan held 15 workers at gunpoint and beat them.
While no definitive information regarding the motive was confirmed, it is suspected that the assault was triggered by the non-payment of extortion money from a Tk3 crore allocation for the construction of a three-kilometre road.
The injured workers include Anisur Rahman, Khokon Hossain, Saddam Hossain, and Belal Hossain, along with 12 others, all of whom are residents of Matiranga Pourashava area.
Upon receiving the news, army personnel from Sindukchhari Zone rescued the workers and took them into their custody.
Guimara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Sohrawardy confirmed that he was aware of the incident and that the army had rescued the workers. He said that no formal complaint has been filed yet; however, legal action will be taken once a complaint is received.
