Tense situation in Bandarban even today, army chief visits

A very tense situation is prevailing in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas in Bandarban a people of the upazilas are in a state of panic fearing further terrorist activities by Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), a separatist rebel group from the Bom indigenous community in the district.

Bangladesh Army Chief Lt Gen SM Shafiuddin Ahmed has come to inspect the overall situation regarding the last week’s rampage and bank robbery of the armed organization KNF in Ruma and Thanchi.

He reached Bandarban by helicopter on Sunday (April 7) morning. At present, he is holding discussions with army officials of 69 Army Region of Bandarban.

The army chief is expected to brief the media after the meeting. However, there were no reports of fresh KNF shelling in Ruma and Thanchi.

Meanwhile, the situation in Ruma and Thanchi continues to be tense due to KNF's rampage. Upazila residents are yet to come out of the trauma created by KNF atrocities.

On the other hand, the number of cases filed over the bank robberies and violence carried out by KNF has increased to eight. Among those, four have been filed with Ruma and four with Thanchi police stations. In all the cases, unidentified miscreants have been accused.

Mangbraching Marma and Jasim Uddin, residents of Thanchi upazila, said that there is still panic among the traders of Thanchi bazar. Although the shops are open, the presence of people is less. As soon as the evening falls, people wrap up everything in fear of the KNF violence. Tourists are also absent for four days. The ever-bustling Thanchi Bazar has become deserted. Any kind of sound echoes like gunshots as if people are hearing gunshots all the time.

Uttam Das and Sohorab, traders of Ruma Bazaar, said that people throughout Ruma are spending their days in fear of KNF. Earlier, shops were open till 11:00pm in Ruma Bazar. Currently, traders are closing their shops after seven in the evening. Sales are also down.

Sources concerned said the operation of the joint forces to arrest the bank robbers is going on. Extensive raids are being conducted in Ruma-Roangchari, Thanchi-Alikdam border areas as part of the ongoing joint forces' operation.

Jasim Uddin, Officer-in-charge (OC) of Thanchi Police Station said that four cases have been filed with Thanchi thana in connection with the rampage of armed terrorists. The joint forces are conducting an operation to identify the attackers and arrest them.

He also said that the security system has been strengthened in Thanchi Bazar and surrounding areas along with the important installations in Thanchi to avoid further untoward incidents.

OC of Ruma police station Mohammad Shahajahan said no one has been arrested yet in connection with bank robbery. Joint forces are trying to identify and arrest the attackers. Although the situation is now fairly normal, the panic has not subsided.

Local people said in the name of securing the rights of the Bom community, the KNF has created terror by establishing supremacy in hilly areas of the district, especially in Ruma, Thanchi, Rowangchari and Alikadam upazilas, by extorting money through kidnapping.

Locals alleged that their terrorist activities are being conducted around Munnum Para, Atta Para, Betelpara, Roninpara areas of Ruma upazila.

A few public representatives, on the condition of anonymity, complained that a large number of people from the Bom community are involved with the KNF. Many leaders of the Bom community have been mixing with the public and providing all the information to the KNF.

They also said that there is always movement of KNF terrorists in the Bom community areas. KNF sources can be easily identified if intelligence surveillance is increased.