PCJSS member Anunay Chakma Manas again shown arrested at Khagrachari jail

News release: 17 May 2008

Today returnee PCJSS member Anunany Chakma Manas was again shown arrested at Khagrachari jail with an old murder case.

It is reported that yesterday Chief Judicial Magistrate Mr. Abul Basar Munchi of Khagrachari district court issued his release order by pronouncing him not guilty.

Following Sajek incident, Anunay Chakma was arrested by the army at Dighinala check post in Khagrachari district on 13 May 2008 and a case was filed against him under section 16(2) of the Emergency Power Rules 2007 with Dighinala police station. According to the sources, investigating officer sub-inspector Khokan Chandra Debnath of Dighinala police station submitted report to the court stating that Anunay Chakma was fully innocent. In accordance with the police report, Chief Judicial Magistrate issued his release order during the last hearing held yesterday.

Sources also informed that no sooner issuance of court release order, military forces of Dighinala zone sought arrest order against Anunay Chakma with an old murder case lodged in 2006 with Dighinala police station from the court, but it was rejected as he was not enlisted as defendant to this case. However, joint forces shown arrested him today mourning at Khagrachari jail when all the procedures have been completed to set him free.

It is mentionable that joint forces frequently arrest those indigenous activists in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) who get release or bail from the court, in order to keep them detention month after months.

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Aungkyew Mong
Coordinator
Kapaeeng Watch
(A human rights group for indigenous peoples)
Jagannath Hall, Dhaka University
Dhaka, Bangladesh
E-mail: kapaeeng.watch@gmail.com, kapaeeng.watch@micico.ch