Ramesu violence: Locals speak of shattered lives

Angsanu Marma, 65, stood in front of his charred grocery shop at Guimara's Ramesu Bazar yesterday while his wife searched for anything that could be salvaged.

Angsanu, who is fighting cancer, said his life had revolved around the shop he had been running for 30 years and his small home next to it.

"There was cash in the shop. Many valuables were inside the house. I couldn't save anything. I escaped with only the clothes on my back," he told The Daily Star.

Violence erupted in Ramesu Bazar in Khagrachhari on September 28 when a protest by Jumma Chhatra Janata, a platform of indigenous communities, against a recent alleged rape incident was attacked.

Three members of the hill community were shot dead and at least 11 others were injured in the attack.

Recalling the horrific incident, Angsanu said, "The boys [Jumma Chhatra Janata members] started gathering and shouting before the incident. Shortly after, the gunfire began. I ran with my wife and daughter."

Like Angsanu, many shopkeepers lost everything in the arson attack.

Visiting the Bazar yesterday, this correspondent saw destroyed shops and homes along both sides of the road. Entry to the market was restricted by an army checkpoint where everyone was being questioned.

About 50 shops were reduced to rubble. The fire was so intense that nearby trees were scorched.

Jeweller Athaye Prue Marma said, "Masked men attacked. I lost Tk 33,000 in the fire."

Women's clothes seller Michen Rakhain told this newspaper, "Since our religious festival is approaching, I had stocked up on clothes and fabrics worth nearly Tk 20 lakh. Many of the garments were custom-stitched. Everything has been burnt. I don't know what to do now."

Former Guimara upazila chairman Usepru Marma told this correspondent, "This was the largest marketplace of the Marma community in the district."

The local administration has begun assessing the extent of the damage. "Initially, the damage is estimated at around Tk 20 crore," said an official, preferring not to be named.

The district administration yesterday formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident.

Visiting the spot, Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekharul Islam Khondakar told reporters, "We are working to restore peace in the area. We have taken initiatives to meet Jumma Chhatra Janata's seven-point demand."

Superintendent of Police Arefin Jewel said, "The perpetrators will be brought to justice. If the victims' families do not file cases, police will lodge cases as complainants."

The administration yesterday distributed relief materials to some of the affected locals.

Shefali Marma, standing in front of the DC, voiced her anger: "We are not beggars. My two shops were burned down. My house was burned down. Who will take responsibility for this?... Everything has been destroyed ... We want everything restored to the way it was."

BLOCKADE SUSPENDED

The Jumma Chhatra Janata, through a Facebook post around 9:00pm yesterday, suspended its road blockade in Khagrachhari.

"Following the assurances and initiatives of the local administration and showing respect to Durga Puja, we have suspended the blockade from 11:00pm today until October 5," it said.

"However, if the administration fails to fulfil the eight-point demand presented, the organisation will launch a tougher programme."