Tripura Police nab 13 Bangladeshi PCJSS members, including 2 women, near Tripura Medical College in Agartala for illegally crossing the India-Bangladesh border. Injured in recent CHT clashes, they sneaked into Tripura illegally seeking medical treatment.
Agartala (Tripura): June 4: Tripura Police apprehended 13 persons including three women, reportedly members of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), a Left-inclined political outfit from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, for illegally entering into Indian territory in Agartala.
On early hours of Wednesday (June 4), Amtali Police Station personnel arrested them from a rented house near Tripura Medical College at Hapania in Agartala.
Among the 13 members of the group, 11 were men and two women. Sources said, most of them were found wounded.
Local sources on condition of anonymity said, the PCJSS members sneaked into Agartala after crossing the India-Bangladesh Border without any valid documents for medical treatment. They were staying at a rented house near the Tripura Medical College, Hapania.
Based on a tip-off, Police from Amtali PS raided the house and arrested them. The arrested persons are scheduled to be produced before the Court today.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the arrested members were injured in recent violent confrontations, took place in Bangladesh, between the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), a Chakma-led political faction headed by Prasit Khisha and Santu Larma-led PCJSS faction.
Background:
The armed conflict between PCJSS and UPDF reportedly broke out on May 14 in Baghaichari upazila of Rangamati district of Bangladesh.
The initial gunfire began early in the morning in Dulobonia village under Bangaltali Union which sporadically continued thereafter.
According to local reports, the most intense exchange of fire occurred Monday afternoon in Suketan field, located in the same Bangaltali Union.
Parbatta News reported, Nirbahi Officer Shirin Akhter of the Baghaichhari Upazila confirmed the gunfight.
According to local sources, the violent confrontations resulted from an escalating power struggle between the PCJSS and UPDF factions ahead of the forthcoming upazila parishad polls.
Around 1,000 rounds were exchanged during the skirmishes, local sources claimed.
While no official confirmation of fatalities has been made, gun battle caused property damage and triggered panic among the locals.
Sources familiar with the faction-war between the PCJSS and UPDF, said the long-standing leadership of Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma under different political regimes in Bangladesh has put the PCJSS under the scanner.
Larma has retained his position for the past 27 years, despite various political changes in Bangladesh, sources said and added, the interim government led by Dr. Mohammed Yunus appointed Santu Larma as Chairman of the CHT Regional Council.
The Chairman post is equivalent to Minister of State, Larma is said to enjoy significant powers and privileges.
Besides, reports suggest that Larma commands a personal armed force, which has been associated with multiple internal disputes in the CHT region.
