Today marks the 4th year anniversary of the atrocious Langadu attack. On this day in 2017, the Bengali settlers carried out a communal attack on 4 indigenous villages in Langadu following the incident of a settler's death. More than 2 hundreds of houses and shops were burnt to ashes. The villagers fled for their lives leaving behind all their valuables and belongings. A 80-year old woman named Gunbala Chakma got burnt to death as she could not escape.
When and how it all started?
1 June, 2017 : Day before the communal attack
On June 1st, the dead body of a hired-motorcycle driver named Nurul Islam Nayan was found at Charmile area of Khagrachari-Dighinala road. He also was the organizing secretary of Langadu Sadar Union branch of Juba League. Tension spread for possible attack among the indigenous people of different villages as Bengali settlers were alleging indigenous people for Nurul's death.
A protest rally was called on for the next day by Bengali settlers. In anticipation of possible violence in connection to the protest indigenous people of Longadu informed the officials of Longadu Military Zone and Longadu Police Station and local public representatives about their insecurity and sought protection (on 1 June). The 2nd in Command (2IC) of Longadu Army Zone Major Rafique told the leaders of indigenous people that it is a democratic right of the Bengali settlers to stage rally peacefully and assured them that they would not let anything unexpected to be happened. He said, “Staging procession is a democratic right of the settlers. They will exercise their right peacefully. No untoward incident will be allowed to happen. Hence, there is nothing to be worried.”
2 June, 2017 : How the barbaric attack started?
As pre-planned, on 2 June at around 9:30 am, the Bengali settlers of Longadu brought out a rally led by ruling party, Awami League and Juba League, carrying the Nurul's dead body from Batya Para area of Longadu upazila. It should be mentioned that tha rally marched under guard of the army and police. During the rally Bengali settlers began to spread communal sentiment claiming two Jumma people allegedly killed Nurul and provoking slogan to start a communal riot and attack on indigenous villagers. When the rally reached Tintilla area at 10:00 am, the rallying Bengali settlers all on a sudden set the houses and shops of indigenous people and Multipurpose Community Centre and the upazilla unit office of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) ablaze without any prior incitement. They made it to burn over 94 houses including 10 shops of indigenous people to ashes at Tintilla area. Shortly after that, the Bengali settlers went ahead to attack on nearby Manikjorchara area and torched the houses of indigenous people there leaving at least 88 houses including 5 shops of indigenous community completely gutted. While carrying out the attacks, the Bengali settlers looted all the valuables from the houses and shops of the Jumma people. About 6000 indigenous Jumma villagers from nearby villages forced to leave their houses and flee to the jungle to safe their lives. Not a single family of the affected areas could save any of their belongings.
The role of security forces during the attack
Though the officials of Longadu Military Zone and Longadu Police Station assured the indigenous people of security, still Bengali settlers dared to start attacking, vandalizing, looting, setting fire to Jumma people in the presence of security forces.
At around 12 pm, the local administration declared Section 144. However, by then the declaration became of no use as attacks continued until 2 pm. During this time at least 42 houses including 4 shops of indigenous people in Battya Para were burnt to ashes by the Bengali settlers.
Why this audacity? The answer is quite simple. The security forces' support was with the Bengali settlers. Instead of protecting the Jumma people that were being attacked, they helped the attackers by guarding them. Observing the incidents on that day, it's crystal clear that the attack was not sudden at all, it was schemed.
In these pre-planned attacks, it is alleged that with the help of security forces flammable objects such as patrol and kerosene were widely used to set fire to the houses. Affected villagers also noticed that the settlers being guarded by Army and Police and sprayed a gas-like flammable object from bottles to do their job faster. As a result, the houses including concrete buildings were quickly turned to ashes, according to the survivors.
Reportedly, members of security forces and police were present while attacks were being made. Indigenous peoples claimed that the arson attacks made on indigenous peoples were in the presence of Lt. Col. Abdul Halim Chowdhury PSC and 2IC Major Rafique of Longadu military zone, Longadu police station Maminul Islam.
Four years have passed since the attack and it has still not been brought to justice, neither the victims have been properly compensated, nor their homes have not rebuilt as promised.
The Langadu attack was a continuation of previous attacks. On May 4, 1969, a brutal attack was carried out on the hills in Langadu. Which has become a black chapter of history called ‘Langadu Genocide’. There was another attack in 2011. Several houses in the hills were also burnt. None of these incidents have been brought to justice yet.
Attacks on the hills in the Chittagong Hill Tracts have been going on for ages. It still continues due to the lack of justice and also for the support coming from the security force. Question remains, "where does it end?"
Written by Neeti Chakma
Comments