Police have filed three separate cases, including one for murder, in connection with the recent violence in Guimara and Sadar upazilas of Khagrachhari, accusing over a thousand unidentified individuals.
The cases were registered at the Guimara and Khagrachhari Sadar Police Stations three days after the incidents.
The violence, which occurred on 28 September, resulted in the deaths of three hill people and injuries to several others, including 13 army personnel.
The clashes stemmed from a three-way exchange of gunfire between security forces, Bengali settlers, and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) in Guimara upazila. This followed protests over the alleged gang rape of an eighth-grade student.
According to the respective police stations, two of the cases, including one for murder, were filed at Guimara Police Station, while the other was filed at Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station.
Guimara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Enamul Haque Chowdhury told reporters that a violent attack was carried out on army personnel and law enforcement members between 11:30am and 4:00pm on 28 September, in violation of Section 144.
Incidents of arson and vandalism also occurred, and later, three bodies were recovered from a paddy field.
“Sub-Inspector Sohel Rana filed the cases at Guimara Police Station on Wednesday night, as the families of the deceased and victims did not come forward to file complaints,” he said.
The OC added that around 100 unidentified individuals were accused in the murder case, while another 250 unidentified individuals were accused in the case regarding violence, attacks, and arson.
Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Baten Mridha told reporters that another case was filed at his station over clashes on 27 September in Mahajan Para, Swanirbhar, and areas near the upazila parishad.
The clashes also occurred in violation of Section 144. Sub-Inspector Shaheen filed the case on Wednesday noon, accusing between 700 and 800 unidentified individuals, the OC added.
The incidents stemmed from a rape accusation involving a hill girl on 23 September. She was found unconscious in a field at 11:00pm.
The day after the allegation, police, with the help of the army, arrested a 19-year-old man named Shoyon Shil in connection with the case. The accused was placed on a six-day remand in custody.
But protests continued, demanding the arrest and trial of the others.
However, a subsequent medical examination by a three-member team of doctors did not find evidence of rape.
On Tuesday, Dr Joya Chakma, senior consultant (Gynaecology) at Khagrachhari Modern District Hospital, who led the team for the rape evidence examination, said, “We have submitted the medical report after conducting all necessary tests. However, we did not find any evidence of rape.”
With an eight-point demand, the Jumma Chhatra-Janata started enforcing a blockade programme in the district, halting traffic on the Chattogram-Khagrachhari, Khagrachhari-Rangamati, and Khagrachhari-Sajek roads.
Citing a severe deterioration of law and order, the district administration on 27 September enforced Section 144 following a day-long protest.
Amid escalating tension, violence broke out in Guimara on 28 September, breaching Section 144, leaving at least three people dead in the clash.
The district administration later formed a five-member probe committee to investigate the Guimara violence.
Following assurances that their eight-point demands would be met and in view of the Durga Puja festival, the Jumma Chhatra-Janata on 30 September suspended the blockade until 5 October.
The administration, on the other hand, said Section 144 would be lifted gradually once the situation fully calmed down.
