Guimara Correspondent, CHT News
Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Authorities forced the cremation of the bodies of three people killed in the army-settler attack in Guimara, Khagrachari district, late at night—without any social or religious rites.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that members of the army are still surrounding the Ramesu Bazar area and are not allowing displaced and affected locals to return to their burnt homes and shops. Those injured in the attack and currently receiving treatment at various places are also living in fear, as there are rumors that the administration might file cases against them.
Notably, on Sunday (28 September 2025), during a road blockade called by “Jumma Student-Public” demanding the arrest and punishment of all perpetrators involved in the rape of a Marma teenage girl in Khagrachari, army personnel and settlers jointly attacked the demonstrators at Ramesu Bazar in Guimara. In this attack, three people were shot dead by the army, several others were critically injured, and at least 30 people were wounded. Additionally, settlers set fire to homes of indigenous people in and around Ramesu Bazar.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Thwaiching Marma (25), son of Hlachaing Marma, village: Bottola Para, Hafchari, Guimara – a driver by profession.
- Akhra Marma (24), son of Aparu Marma, village: Saingguli Para, Baropilak, Guimara.
- Athuipru Marma (26), son of Thwaihlaong Marma, village: Lichu Bagan, Hafchari, Guimara.
After the incident, the Khagrachari district police recovered the three bodies and sent them to Khagrachari Sadar Hospital for autopsy. The following day (29 September), when the families of the deceased went to receive the bodies, hospital authorities delayed handing them over citing that the autopsies were not yet completed.
Later, at around 9:30 p.m., the bodies were handed over to the families. While returning with the bodies under police escort, the vehicles were stopped for about half an hour at a military checkpoint under the Matiranga Army Zone. After being released, the bodies reached their respective villages around 11:30 p.m. Each body was escorted by two army vehicles and one police vehicle.
Local residents reported that, along with the army and police, members of the notorious Mottaleb Bahini (a known pro-military vigilante group) were also present with the vehicles carrying the bodies of Thwaiching Marma and Akhra Marma.
The Guimara Upazila administration then pressured the villagers to complete the cremation within the night. This created fear among the villagers. Under administrative pressure, the villagers were compelled to cremate the bodies at midnight, without performing any religious rites.
Villagers said they were forced to carry out the cremation without religious rituals due to the intense pressure from the Guimara administration.
Such behavior by the authorities has sparked outrage in the area. Civic groups and conscious individuals have condemned the administration’s actions, saying that forcing the cremation of bodies without religious rites is a clear violation of human rights. They call for people to raise their voices against such actions.
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