Police file 3 cases over Khagrachhari violence, over 1,000 unnamed accused

Police have filed three cases in connection with the recent violence in Khagrachhari's Guimara and Sadar upazilas, accusing over 1,000 unidentified individuals.

According to police, two cases were filed at Guimara Police Station and one at Sadar Police Station following the clashes that erupted last Saturday and Sunday.

Guimara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Enamul Haque Chowdhury said violence broke out between 11:30am and 4pm on 28 September, when protesters defied Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure imposed by the administration.

Members of the army, police, and other law enforcement agencies came under attack during the unrest, which also saw arson, vandalism, and, later, the recovery of three bodies from a paddy field.

In Guimara, one case of murder was filed against 100 unidentified people, while another case related to violence, arson, and attacks on law enforcement accused 250-300 unidentified individuals.

As families of the victims did not come forward to file complaints, Sub-Inspector Sohel Rana of Guimara police lodged the case as plaintiff, said the OC.

Meanwhile, Sadar Police Station OC Abdul Baten Mridha said another case was lodged in connection with the 27 September clashes at Mahajan Para, Swanirbhar, and the upazila parishad area, also in defiance of Section 144. That case listed 700-800 unidentified people as accused.

Tensions in Khagrachhari began after the alleged rape of a Marma teenager on 23 September night, which sparked protests and a road blockade programme organised by the Jumma Chhatra-Janata group.

Anger over the alleged rape and subsequent clashes escalated into violent confrontations, leading to deaths, widespread damage, and heavy deployment of security forces.

However, a three-member medical team later reported that forensic examination did not find evidence of rape.