Panchari Correspondent, CHT News
Monday, 16 February 2026
Armed members of the JSS Santu Group have reportedly summoned and taken three school students hostage in Panchari, Khagrachari.
According to local sources, this morning (Monday, 16 February 2026), a commander of the militant Santu Group, Dighol Chakma (40), reportedly called the families by mobile phone and threatened them, instructing them to hand over Nishan Chakma (16), a 10th-grade student and son of Chokko Chakma from Machyachara village, and Dhulo Chakma, son of Nirpon Chakma from Mora Machyachara village, into their custody.
Later, around 10:00 AM, family members, relatives, and village elders took the two students, Nishan Chakma and Dhulo Chakma, to the Santu Group’s armed hideout in Logang Karlayachari. However, at that time, armed members of the Santu Group reportedly kept the students in their custody without holding any discussion with the elders and sent the elders and family members back home.
Meanwhile, another student named Nirjon Chakma from Seemana Para has also allegedly been summoned and held hostage by the Santu Group. It is known that Nirjon Chakma’s stepfather, Bijli Kumar Chakma, is an armed member of the JSS Santu Group.
The specific reason for detaining the school students is not known. However, according to one source, they may have been held on suspicion of being involved in campaigning in support of the “Horse” electoral symbol during the national parliamentary election held on 12 February.
At the time of writing this report, none of them had been released.
The Santu Group’s actions have reportedly caused concern, anxiety, and anger among local residents. They have demanded the immediate release of the detained students.
It is noteworthy that previously, on 15 February, armed members of the Santu Group allegedly abducted a teenage boy named Sabuj Chakma (15) from Sukhmoni Para in Logang Union. He has reportedly not yet been released either.
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