Bring to book culprits who attacked Larma: PCJSS

30 January 2010, 18:00 PM

Star National Desk

Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) brings out a procession in Rangamati town yesterday condemning Wednesday's attack on indigenous leaders including PCJSS President Santu Larma and Chakma Circle chief Raja Devashish Roy.Photo: STAR

Leaders of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) have demanded punishment to the criminals responsible for Wednesday's attack on indigenous leaders in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The motor convoys of CHT Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma, Chakma Circle chief Devasish Roy and Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Nikhil Kumar Chakma came under attack at different places on their way to Khagrachhari Circuit House where they were scheduled to attend a meeting of CHT Land Commission. Santu Larma, also the president of PCJSS, and four of his companions sustained minor injuries as shards of glass from a car windowpane hit them during the attack. PCJSS yesterday brought out a procession in Rangamati town and held a rally on the premises of deputy commissioner's office in protest against the attack, reports our Rangamati correspondent. The armed cadres of United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), an anti-peace treaty organisation, made the pre-planned attacks on PCJSS leaders on Wednesday, speakers said at the rally. They said the administration failed to provide foolproof security to their leaders although police and civil administrations concerned were informed of the meeting schedule of CHT Land Commission quite a few days earlier. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and ensuring punishment to them. Terming the UPDF as a 'terrorist organisation', they demanded that the government ban it immediately, arrest UPDF chief Prasit Bikash Khisa and bring him to book. They urged the government for full implementation of CHT peace deal without further delay. Presided over by PCJSS Vice President Laxmi Prasad Chakma, the rally was also addressed, among others, by PCJSS General Secretary Pranati Bikash Chakma. Our Khagrachhari correspondent adds: PCJSS yesterday held a meeting in the Bazar area of Laxmichhari upazila under Khagrachhari district protesting Wednesday's attacks on Santu Larma and other indigenous leaders. Blaming UPDF for the attacks as well as several other incidents of terrorism and killing in CHT, speakers at the meeting said the government should ban UPDF activities in the region. PCJSS upazila unit Secretary Uchhakhai Marma presided over the meeting.