Khagracchari, April 16 — Gunmen abducted five students from Chittagong University (CU) and a local auto-rickshaw driver on Wednesday morning in the Giriful area of Khagrachhari.
After the abduction, the Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) claimed that members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) carried out the abduction.
The students were returning from the Chittagong Hill Tracts after attending the traditional Biju Festival when the incident took place.
Ribek Chakma, Information and Publication Secretary of the CU unit of PCP, issued a press statement accusing the UPDF of involvement.
The PCP demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the students and the driver in sound health.
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It also urged the Chittagong University administration, the Khagrachhari district administration, and other authorities to take prompt action in this regard.
Angya Marma, Khagrachhari district coordinator of the UPDF (Prosit group), denied the allegation. “We have always opposed fratricidal conflict and internal violence. We had no involvement in this incident. Linking the UPDF to it is part of a conspiracy,” he said.
Abdul Baten Mridha, officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, said they had heard about the incident from several sources but had not yet received a formal complaint.
The abducted students were said to be Aldrin Tripura, a first-year student at the Institute of Fine Arts; Maitrimoy Chakma, a first-year student at the Institute of Fine Arts; Dibbyo Chakma, a first-year student in the Department of Drama; Rishon Chakma, a first-year student in the Department of International Relations; and Langgi Mro, a first-year student in the Department of Zoology.
The students had gone to Baghaichhari in Rangamati to celebrate the Biju Festival with friends. As they failed to get bus tickets back to Chattogram, they stayed overnight at a relative’s house in the Kukichhara area, near Khagrachhari town.
On Wednesday morning, they travelled by an auto-rickshaw towards Khagrachhari Sadar. Armed men allegedly intercepted the vehicle in the Giriful area and abducted all five students along with the driver.