Stand-off, road barricades

Armed activists of UPDF (United Peoples Democratic Front), who dominate the area and want to rout their rival PCJSS from there, are pressing the villagers for withdrawal of the road barricades and the allegation of extortion against them, local people said.

The gun-yielding UPDF activists are patrolling the area. Surprisingly, the are trying to express solidarity with the villagers; but that is only to oust the PCJSS (Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity), they said.

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After raising barricades at several points on the road, representatives of the villagers also submitted memoranda to the deputy commissioner and the Rangamati army commander to stop the crimes.

When contacted, army sources said troops have been sent to the area to prevent any untoward incident.

The villagers resorted to picketing on the road on Monday. But no administrative action was seen till yesterday, the local people said.

Rivalry between UPDF and PCJSS intensified since the latter signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Agreement in 1997 with the then Awami League government. UPDF opposes the agreement.

The PCJSS is trying to take control of the area for a safe passage to 'Kalapahar' and adjoining hills. Three foreign engineers were abducted from Kalapahar some years back.

The PCJSS bid to establish supremacy in the area led to several bloody incidents with UPDF.