Khagrachhari students, residents hold protest rally against rape

Residents and students in Khagrachhari organized a protest rally condemning the gang rape of a schoolgirl and speaking out against the oppression of Jumma women in the hill areas.

The rally, held under the banner of Jumma students and locals, began at Khagrachhari Government College on Friday morning. Protesters marched through the city’s main roads before holding a demonstration at Chengri Square.

Representatives of the Jumma student community, including Kripayan Tripura, Kabita Chakma, Akash Tripura, and Marma Ukyanu Marma, addressed the crowd during the event.

The protest involved road blockades lasting several hours, disrupting traffic. At one point, protesters reportedly attacked and vandalized a military patrol vehicle.

The incident that sparked the protests occurred on Tuesday, 23 September, when a schoolgirl was gang-raped while returning home after private tuition. The victim’s father filed a case at Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, naming three unidentified suspects. One individual, Shayan Sheel, has since been arrested. In response to the incident, residents had previously staged a half-day road blockade on Thursday, 25 September, demanding the arrest of all perpetrators.