Panchhari village tense as missing woman's body recovered

19 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

A tense situation is prevailing between indigenous people and Bangali settlers after recovery of a missing Bangali woman's body at indigenous village Modonmohanpara under Panchhari upazila in Khagrachhari district on Tuesday night. Demanding arrest and punishment of the of killers, Parbatya Bangalee Chhatra Parishad yesterday brought out a procession and held a meeting in Bus Stand area of Panchhari upazila. They have also called a day-long hartal in the upazila on Saturday. Many indigenous people of the village left their houses after police recovered the body of Nasima Begum, wife of Mohammad Khokon Mia of Islampur village in Panchhari upazila, on Tuesday night while traders in Panchhari Bazar kept their shops and business offices closed yesterday, locals said. Nasima, 21, went missing on Monday noon when she went to the jungle to collect firewood, police said. As her body was found at neighbouring indigenous village Modonmohanpara, the Bangali settlers blamed indigenous people for the killing. Nasima's husband Khokon Mia said his wife was killed after rape and it happened following withdrawal of BDR camp from Chhoto Panchhari. Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ameer Zafar said they have deployed additional police to stave off untoward incident. “Army has been deployed after the incident and security forces are jointly working to maintain peace in the area," said Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdullah.