chtnews.com
News No. 116/2010, June 26, 2010
A member of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) was arrested on 22 June in Rangamati.
The arrested UPDF man was identified as Shishu Moni Chakma, a resident of Rangapani near Rangamati town.
According to UPDF sources, he was arrested from Digolibagh at 3:30pm while waiting for a passenger boat to go to Rangamati.
Some army personnel wearing civil uniforms came in a boat and arrested him. However, two other UPDF members were able to run away.
The army beat him mercilessly, forced him to wear military uniforms, put an automatic weapon in his hands, photographed and then handed him over to the police.
He was beaten so much that he had to be admitted to a hospital in Rangamati for treatment before being handed over to the police.
The army also filed false cases against him accusing him of possessing illegal weapons and being involved in extortion.
Although he was arrested on 22 June, newspaper reports stated, obviously in line with the military version of the incident, that he was arrested at 8am on 24 June while “extorting money”.
UPDF leader Shanti Dev Chakma categorically denied the charge that firearms were found with him at the time of arrest.
He demanded unconditional release of Shishu Moni Chakma and withdrawal of all the false cases filed against him with Rangamati police station.
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