The Chittagong Hill Tracts Indigenous Peoples Youth Federation (CHTIPYF) has called for urgent intervention from the Bangladesh government, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the diplomatic community following the alleged kidnapping of six indigenous villagers by the paramilitary group Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati (PCJSS) led by Santu Larma.
The federation claimed that six indigenous villagers had been kidnapped by the PCJSS’s armed wing, the Jumma Liberation Army (JLA), on July 1, 2025.
The CHTIPYF stated that JLA abducted Dhanamuni Chakma (19), Sukesh Chakma (22), Lakshi Shanti Chakma (35), Bhanga Hada Chakma (35), Shan Bikash Chakma (36), and Hullaya Chakma (22) from the remote Rangapani Chhara village in Rangamati district.
The PCJSS cadres reportedly confirmed the kidnappings by releasing photos of the abducted individuals and are demanding BDT 600,000 (approximately US$ 5,500) for their release.
Pragna Tapas Chakma, President of the CHTIPYF, sharply criticized the Bangladesh government’s alleged complicity with the PCJSS.
“The PCJSS is a paramilitary force of the Government of Bangladesh because it holds the government of the CHT Regional Council established under the CHT Regional Council Act of 1998,” Chakma stated.
He further accused the Bangladesh government of allowing the PCJSS to control the CHT Regional Council without elections for 27 years, while also permitting it to maintain a militia involved in “kidnapping, extortion, and murder of indigenous civilians.”
“Bangladesh has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and Santu Larma as the President of the PCJSS has the command responsibility and liable for the gross violations committed by his cadres, often under his instructions,” he said.
The CHTIPYF further alleged that since taking control of the CHT Regional Council, the PCJSS Santu Group has been involved in a range of illicit activities including child soldier recruitment, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, torture, and the murder of “hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent indigenous peoples” in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region.
Chakma provided specific instances to support these claims, citing Indian media reports.
Chakma stated, “As per the Indian media reports, on June 4, 2025, Indian Police arrested 13 cadres of the PCJSS at Agartala and one of the arrested was a 17-year-old Bitu Chakma, clearly showing the recruitment of child soldiers. On June 19, 2025, India’s security forces reportedly seized methamphetamine tablets valued at approximately Rs 104.3 million (about US$ 1.3 million) in Mizoram, allegedly belonging to the PCJSS.”
ALSO READ: Bangladesh’s former IGP Abdullah Al Mamun ‘forced’ to become state approver: Awami League
“On February 12, 2025, Mizoram Police reportedly arrested PCJSS cadres Roni Chakma, Anirban Chakma, and Ribeng Chakma, confiscating two AK-47 assault rifles, five US-made M4 carbines, 20 magazines, and thousands of rounds of ammunition, along with cash and other items,” he said.
Chakma also claimed that “over 1,000 indigenous peoples were killed in the clashes initiated by the PCJSS with the full support of the Government and the powerful Bangladesh Army” over the past 27 years.
