On 10 April 2024, Bangladesh army detained innocent indigenous Bawm men, women and children in Ruma and Thanchi.

Bangladesh army arrest and harass indigenous people in Ruma

On April 14, 2024, Bangladesh army arrested 6 Tripura people from Bethani Tripura Para of Ruma Upazila accusing them of being members of the KNF. They were-

1. Karbari Ratichandra Tripura (58), son of Gangamani Tripura
2. Karbari’s son Sukantha Tripura (21), a student studying in Notre Dame College
3. Rakha Chandra Tripura (21)
4. Abraham Tripura (30)
5. Pintu Tripura (30), son of Shaitoha Tripura
6. A person whose name could not be known.

After the arrest, Bangladesh army personnel interrogated the victims for a long time asking “Where is the KNF camp and for how long have the KNF members been stationed in Bethani Para?” etc. and released them at night.

Soon after the security forces started the anti-KNF operation, the common Bawm people of the Bawm dominated villages like Lairunpi Para, Munlai Para etc. were forced to leave their villages and took shelter elsewhere. As a result, the KNF members positioned themselves at the Bethani Para and Munlai Para.

On the same day (April 14), the police arrested 4 more Bawm community people suspected in the Ruma and Thanchi bank robbery and weapons robbery cases from Bandarban Sadar. The arrestees were-

1. Lal Robat Bawm (27), son of Lal Min Saom Bawm, Village-Remakri Prangsa;
2. Lal Lom Khar Bawm (31), son of Lian Juam Bawm, Village-Kuhalang;
3. Mithusel Bawm (25), son of Rual Lai Bawm, Village-Paindu Union
4. Lal Ruat Lian Bawm (38), son of Ramkup Bawm, Village-Bandarban Sadar.

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