New Delhi: At least four tribal people were killed and over 40 others injured after Bangladesh Army personnel allegedly opened fire on protestors in the Guimara area of Khagrachari district in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) on Sunday, rights groups claimed.
Following the firing, houses belonging to indigenous families were allegedly set ablaze by settlers.
According to reports, the victims were largely from the Marma and Mog communities.
The protests in the region had been continuing for five days after a minor Marma girl was allegedly gang-raped by settlers on September 23 at Singhinala village in Khagrachari.
Demonstrators had been demanding the arrest of the accused.
“The army not only failed to arrest the rapists but instead resorted to indiscriminate firing on peaceful protestors. Allowing settlers to torch homes of the indigenous people shows these killings were premeditated,” said Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG).
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The rights body has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a stand against what it described as “systematic attacks” on indigenous communities in the CHT.
It called for India to downgrade its diplomatic ties with the interim government of Bangladesh led by Dr Mohammad Yunus.
The RRAG further said it would raise the issue at the ongoing 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this week.
