Dighinala Correspondent, CHT News
Sunday, 30 November 2025
Sonamuni Chakma, whose nom de guerre is “Mishu,” did not return to the armed wing of JSS (Santu) after taking leave and coming home—because he does not want fratricidal conflict.
Sonamuni Chakma is from Arun Bikash Karbari Para in Ward 4 of Dighinala Union, Dighinala Upazila. He is only 17 years old and the son of Babu Chakma and Kajla Devi Chakma.
Sonamuni said that around 13–14 months ago, he joined the JSS (Santu) group at Hogeyituli in Nareichari, Dighinala. Just three days after joining, he was sent to Gandachara in India. After staying there for a day, he was transferred to Mizoram. He said he was mainly sent there for training, although he wasn’t aware of this when the journey began.
After completing a month-long training in Mizoram and returning, he started serving in the armed wing in an area called Khagrachari in the Sajek region of Rangamati. After staying there continuously for 9 months, he set off again toward Gandachara with a 45-member armed group. After staying there for about one month (27–29 days), he and a group of 38 others returned to a place in Sajek known as “Mongoli” or “Baghe Morh.” From there, Sonamuni took leave and returned home.
His experiences in the armed life also include direct combat. He said he participated for the first time in a face-to-face battle in Pittichara in the Sajek region.
Sonamuni realized that fratricidal strife—brother fighting brother—is not good or beneficial. Having understood this, he came home and did not return to the group, he said.
He stated clearly, “They (the Santu group) are involved in fratricidal conflict, and that’s why I left. I do not like brother fighting brother.”
From Sonamuni Chakma’s account, it becomes evident how the Santu Larma-led JSS leadership deceives young people—recruiting teenagers into armed groups in the name of “war” against the government and then using them against the UPDF.
It can be said without doubt that if the armed members of JSS (Santu) develop the same sense of understanding as Sonamuni Chakma, the fratricidal conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts will come to an end.
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