On 7 April 2012 an
indigenous adolescent named Ula Mong Marma (14) son of Thui Mra Chai
Marma of village- Aga Para of Chitmorom union under Kaptai upazila of
Rangamati Hill District was allegedly killed by hitting on the head by
forest guards of Karnophuli forest range of forest department.
Dr. Mong Kyaw Ching
Marma, acting Residential Medical Officer (RMO) of Rangamati General
Hospital said that Ula Mong Marma had died due to hit on his head. Blood
was shedding through his nose and mouth (10 April 2012, daily Prothom
Alo).
Local sources said that
on that day at noon Ula Mong Marma with his three friends went to nearby
reserved forest under Karnophuli reserved forest to collect fire wood
for domestic use. At about 3.00 pm a group of forest guards of forest
department chased Ula Mong and his friends. Though the friends of
deceased could narrowly escape, but Ula Mong was caught by the forest
guards. As Ula Mong did not return home till evening, his friends
informed to chairman of Chitmorom union Mr. Thowai Ching Marma about the
matter. After that, though he was searched in the forest at night by
the local people, but they failed to trace out the victim. The next day
on 8 April 2012 at about 9:00 am the local people recovered dead body of
Ula Mong covered with bush and leafs at that reserved forest.
Being informed Chairman
Thoai Ching Marma visited the spot and then, he and villagers informed
the local police. Later, police recovered the dead body.
Karnophuli range officer
Mamunur Rashid declined to involve any forest staff with this incident.
However, local villagers confirmed that a group of forest guards led by
beat officer Md. Abdul Rahman was patrolling at that area of the
reserved forest on that day.
It is learnt that on 10
April 2012 a case was filed with the Chandraghona police station in this
connection. But till preparing the report, none was arrested.
It is worth mentioning
that several unlawful killings were committed allegedly by the forest
department staff at Karnaphuli reserved forest area. For instances-
On 13 September 2005 an
innocent villager named Mr. Uching Nue Marma (22) s/o Mong Chinghla
Marma was shot dead by the forest guards led by Md. Saidur Rahman,
Assistant Forest Conservator and Mr. Habibur Rahman of Karnaphuli forest
post. The victim was caught by the forest guards while he entered the
jungle for finding out his cows. He was first tortured and then shot
death by the forest guards. The forest guards ran away when the
villagers rushed in the jungle hearing firing. The dead body of the
victim was found on next day in the jungle (14 September). The
victim’s father Mr. Mong Chinghla Marma lodged case in connection with
the killing against 6 forest staff with Kaptai police station. Though Mr.
Mong Chinghla Marma filed case, but he himself is a forest guard of the
forest department. That is why, for the sake of his job, he came up in a
compromise with his boss and colleagues.
On 30 January 2000 the
DFO of the South Forest Division and the Forster of Faruya Forest Office
along with armed Forest Guards destroyed dozens of Jumma's houses in
Faruya area under Belaichari upazila in Rangamati district. They fired
upon the village Karbari's (village head) house. As a result, dozens of
families have become homeless and uprooted from their ancestral
homesteads.
On 7
March 2000 one innocent Jumma named Hriday Tanchangya of Kaptai upazila
under Rangamati district while cutting Jum in his lands received bullet
injury in his leg from the gun firing of the forest guard led by DFO
(South Division) Mr. Tapan Kanti Dey.
On 26 January 2000 the
DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) arrested two Jumma villagers from
Bengchari area of Kaptai upazila falsely alleging for cutting of forest
product. They were severely beaten up by the forest guards and handed
over to the Kaptai police station. The allegation was fully baseless.
The victims were identified as Mr. Gangjak Marma (40) s/o Yongto Marma
and Mr. Thowang Ching Marma (45) s/o Mong Sa Marma.
On 18 January 1999 the
two innocent Jummas were shot dead near Chowdhurychara forest post of
Karnophuli range under Kaptai upazila in Rangamati district by a group
of forest guard led by the Assistant Conservator of Forest Mr. Mamunur
Rashid and Divisional Forest Officer Mr. Tapan Kanti Dey and forest
guard Mr. Mamunur. The dead bodies were not handed over to their
relatives. The victims were identified as Mr. Pening Mong Marma (27) of
Bajjya Tali under Kaptai upazila and Mr. Mong Prue Marma of village
Bajjya Tali under Kaptai upazila.
--------source:
Kapaeeng Foundation
(A Human Rights Organization for Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh)
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