Sajek road blockade to resume from Thursday

The Sajek Gon Odhikar Rokkha Committee and Sajek Karbari Association have announced an indefinite blockade of the Sajek tourist road from Thursday morning, alleging that their three-point demands remain unmet despite assurances from the administration.

In a joint statement sent to the media on Wednesday, Sajek Karbari Association President Natun Joy Chakma and Sajek Gon Odhikar Rokkha Committee Convener Babudhan Chakma said the blockade would continue until further notice.

The organisations had suspended the blockade from October 16 to 21 at the request of the Durga Puja celebration committees of Baghaichhari and Machalong markets and out of respect for the festival. They decided to resume the programme after their demands were not fulfilled during the suspension.

The blockade was first enforced on October 11. On that day, Baghaichhari Zone Deputy Commander Md Salman and representatives of the administration assured the protesters that their three-point demands, including the removal of armed members of the Santu faction of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) from Sajek within 48 hours, would be met.

The protesters temporarily suspended the blockade on conditions but resumed it on October 15, alleging that the assurances had not been fulfilled. The programme was suspended again from October 16 to 21 for Durga Puja.

In the latest statement, the organisations alleged that armed members of the JSS's Santu faction remained in their previous positions. They claimed that more than 100 local residents had been threatened with death and intimidation and forced to leave their homes.

They also alleged that villagers' mobile phones had been seized and that security concerns had prevented jhum cultivators from visiting their land to clear turmeric and broom grass gardens.

The statement further alleged that army operations had failed to produce effective results and that people protesting against the armed members were being harassed instead of the alleged perpetrators facing action.

The leaders said the blockade would continue until local residents' safety and property were protected and the armed members were removed from their alleged positions.

Meanwhile, the organisations have urged tourists staying in Sajek to leave the tourist area by Wednesday.

According to the statement, fire service vehicles, ambulances, hearses, vehicles carrying emergency medicines, newspaper transport vehicles and those carrying journalists on reporting assignments will remain exempt from the blockade.

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