UPDF fires on tourists and law enforcers in Sajek: ISPR

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that armed members of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) opened fire targeting tourists and members of law enforcement agencies in Gangaram Bazar area of Sajek in Rangamati. The organisation has also alleged that local people were forcibly used as human shields to blockade the road.

Vehicular movement on the Sajek-Baghaihat road came to a halt due to the blockade. As a result, nearly three thousand tourists who had gone to visit Sajek were stranded.

In a press release issued on Thursday, ISPR said the army and police jointly took security measures to safely send the stranded tourists to Khagrachhari. During the evacuation of tourists, around 10am the blockaders created obstacles on the road in Gangaram Bazar area and stopped the movement of tourist vehicles. At that time the army and police patrol teams took the initiative to hold discussions with the blockaders to ensure safe movement of the tourists.

The press release further said that during the discussion around 10:45am the blockaders, at the instigation of UPDF, started throwing bricks and stones targeting members of law enforcement agencies and tourists, according to allegations. To bring the situation under control, law enforcement members dispersed the blockaders with a baton charge. Later arrangements were made for the movement of tourist vehicles.

According to ISPR, around 11am armed members of UPDF fired an estimated 30 to 40 rounds targeting law enforcement members and tourists, as per preliminary information. At that time the army patrol team fired in self-defence and to ensure the safety of tourists, after which the armed persons fled the scene. Later the stranded tourists were safely evacuated through the coordinated efforts of the army and police. No casualty was reported in the incident, the press release said.

ISPR said that according to preliminary information the blockade and violence were pre-planned. The organisation has also alleged that local people were forced to participate in the blockade by intimidation and used as human shields. The press release said that due to the ongoing operations of security forces in different areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts a section of UPDF’s armed members have taken position in the tourist area after being cornered.

ISPR noted that such violence is disrupting peace, stability and public security in the Chittagong Hill Tracts as well as adversely affecting the tourism industry and the lives and livelihoods of local people. It also described the incidents of putting tourists’ security at risk and forcibly involving ordinary people in the blockade as concerning.

ISPR further said the army is working in coordination with the civil administration and other law enforcement agencies to maintain peace, harmony and stability in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and to ensure the security of life and property of local people and tourists. This effort will continue in future as well.

Earlier on Wednesday two organisations named Sajek Gono Adhikar Raksha Committee and Sajek Carbari Association announced a third phase of blockade on the Sajek tourist road. In a notice the two organisations said the blockade would continue indefinitely from Thursday. For this reason all tourists were requested to leave Sajek by Wednesday.

Following the blockade announcement by the two regional organisations, the district administration declared the Sajek tourist centre closed citing security reasons. In a public notice on Wednesday evening Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi said the Sajek Valley tourist centre in Baghaichhari upazila would remain temporarily closed until further order.