Khagrachhari Correspondent :
Villagers of Kaladeva, Sonaiaga and Batchandra Para alleged that extortion is the main reason behind Ramgarh unrest arising from Pahari and Bengali people’s conflict since Friday night.
They alleged it at a peace meeting organised by Ramgarh upazila administration at Sonaiaga Government Primary School on Sunday afternoon. The meeting has started at 12 noon and continued till 5pm on Sunday.
Miya Prue Marma, Amiya Marma, Chaila Marma, Mongsathowai Marma, Kayri Prue Marma spoke on behalf of ethnic people and alleged that tense situation is rising in the areas only for extortionists.
They said a group of unidentified ethnic groups, who come to localities including Sonaiaga, Batchandra Para and Kaladeva very often and collect extortion from the people at gunpoint.
“We do not want to become victim of clashes between Pahari and Bengali,” they said urging administration to set up police or BGB camp in their localities”.
Hafizur Rahman, Amir Hossain, Mir Hossain, Mohammad Hossain, Abul Bashar spoke on behalf of Bengali people, who alleged that tens situation is rising over the criminal activities of United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF).
Armed cadres of the UPDF are always harassing Bengali people over extortion, they said urging government to set up security camp here in Sonaiaga for the safety of some 5,000 villagers in three villages.
Officer-in-Charge of Ramgorh Police Station Md Shariful Islam said they have already deployed police to avoid untoward incident between the Pahari and Bangali people, which has been continuing since Friday night.
“We have a plan to set up a police camp aiming to ensure security for three village people,” he said.
At the peace meeting, Ramgarh UNO Md Al Mamun Mia, Ramgarh Municipality Mayor Kazi Shahjahan Ripon, Councillor Ahsan Ullah, Officer-in-Charge of Ramgarh Police Station Md Shariful Islam were present.
Tension has been prevailing since Friday night while hundreds of Bengali people chased a group of ethnic extortionists from Sonaiaga area and entered Batchandra Para and Kaladeva area that created panic among the ethnic villagers. Hundreds of ethnic villagers fled into the jungle with a fear that Bengali people will attack them. Later they have returned to their home.
Now police and BGB personal are controlling the situation.
