The Khagrachhari district administration has formed a five-member committee to probe Sunday’s deadly clashes between agitators from ethnic minority groups and law enforcers in the district’s Guimara upazila.
Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekharul Islam Khandker confirmed the development to reporters when visiting the affected site on Tuesday. During the visit, he also listened to the grievances and complaints from affected ethnic minorities.
The district’s Police Superintendent Arefin Jewel, and Khagrachhari Hill District Council Chairman (temporary) Shefalika Tripura also took part in the government inspection visit.
Sunday’s violence left three ethnic minorities killed, and 20 people, including an army major, injured. Dozens of houses and shops belonging to ethnic minorities were also torched at Ramesu bazar in Guimara upazila.
As law enforcers attempted to tame the agitators from minority groups, terrorists opened fire on the crowd from hilltops.
During Tuesday’s visit, Police officer Arefin Jewel asked the affected individuals to file cases. If they don’t, police will file cases by themselves, he told reporters.
The district’s administrative chief ABM Iftekharul Islam told reporters that the government would take steps to rehabilitate those who lost houses and other properties in the violence. The district administration will also ensure medical treatment for the injured.
On Monday night, the corpses of the deceased were handed over to their respective families, and funeral rites were promptly held.
On the same night, the district authorities sat down with representatives from Jumm-Chhatra-Janata, which has organised blockades in the district protesting a schoolgirl’s rape last week.
The authorities addressed seven of the eight demands raised by the protesters during the meeting, ABM Iftekharul Islam said. The remaining demand – lifting Section 144 across the district – is contingent on the protesters lifting their blockades on the Khagrachhari-Chattogram and Khagrachhari-Dhaka Highways.
On Tuesday, no inter-district vehicle plied the roads amid the enforcement of Section 144, and the road blockades, which were observed for the fourth straight day but with relaxed measures.
FP/MI
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