[🇧🇩-Land] Bangladesh Army VS Kuki Chin

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https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/311615/journalist-arrested-on-suspicion-of-being

Journalist arrested on suspicion of being informant of KNF​

Police say the arrestee is the assistant foreign affairs secretary of the KNF central committee

S Bashu Das
Publish : 19 May 2023, 11:50 PMUpdate : 19 May 2023, 11:50 PM


Members of the Bangladesh Army have arrested a journalist in Ruma upazila of Bandarban suspecting him of being an informant to the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) separatist group.

The arrestee, Longa Khumi, who works at the Daily Manab Zamin, is known to be the assistant foreign affairs secretary of the KNF central committee.

Ruma police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Alamgir Hossain confirmed the news on Friday, saying that a case has been filed against the journalist.

Longa Khumi was presented before the Bandarban Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on Friday afternoon when the court ordered him to be sent to Bandarban district jail pending an investigation, OC Alamgir said.

“There were two cases against him at the station. He was shown arrested in these case,” he added.

According to the police, Longa Khumi had been providing information to the KNF under the guise of journalism for a long time.

He was arrested on the basis of the confidential KNF official documents the joint forces seized recently during the ongoing special operations in the district.

In the last few days, two army officers were killed in an ambush by the KNF armed members in Ruma and another local died in a landmine blast.

Since last year, the law enforcers have been conducting raids in different areas of Bandarban to arrest the members of KNF and militant group Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya, who are working in concert to destabilize the situation, police say.
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https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/330194/knf-delegation-sits-with-authorities-for-peace

KNF delegation sits with authorities for peace​

Four MoUs signed between two sides
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Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and a peace establishment committee meet in Bandarban on Sunday, November 5, 2023. Photo: Dhaka Tribune
S Basu Das, Bandarban
Publish : 06 Nov 2023, 12:00 AMUpdate : 06 Nov 2023, 12:00 AM


The first in-person meeting between armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and a peace establishment committee was held on Sunday amid heavy security.

The meeting was held at Munlaipara community center, 5km away from Ruma Sadar Upazila, at 11am.

Earlier, the KNF had held several video conferences with the peace establishment committee, but this was the first time that a direct meeting was held between the two sides.

The meeting, led by the committee chairman and Zilla Parishad Chairman Kya Shew Hla, was attended by seven members of the committee and five members of KNF.

Endar Lal Ang Lian, senior advisor to the president of KNF and team leader, represented KNF at the meeting.

Besides, government officials, police, security forces, and senior officials of intelligence agencies were also present.

"The KNF's six-point demand and the issue of bringing KNF members back to normal life were discussed in the meeting," Kya Shew Hla told reporters after the meeting.

"Dialogue between both sides took place in a very peaceful environment. The demands of KNF were discussed. But no decision was made," he added.

The next meeting will be held in December, he said.

Additional members of law enforcement agencies including police and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed in the area before the meeting.

Four memorandums of understanding (MoU) were signed between the two sides during the long meeting on Sunday.

The 18-member peace establishment committee was formed in June this year with the leaders of various communities under the leadership of Zilla Parishad Chairman Kya Shew Hla to help KNF members return to normal life.

According to the understandings KNF will remain from taking up arms during the peace process and cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, the government will take all out effort so that Kuki people can return to homes. It said that KNF will send proposals to the authorities for the betterment of Kuki population in education, health, food and employment creation.

These proposals will be dealt with utmost sincerity. The final understanding, according to sources, states that the next date for talks will be decided upon discussion among both sides.

Since November 15 last year, at least 548 people from 132 families have taken refuge in Mizoram due to the armed activities of KNF and operations by different security agencies to arrest its members.

On January 28, some 140 Marma women, men and children took refuge in Ruma Sadar from Mulpi Para, but they returned to their homes on February 5.

On March 10, around 220 people of 56 families from Barathli 4 Union of Rangamati's Bilaichhari took shelter in Tangchangya Reichha and Rowangchhari Sadar Upazila in fear of the armed activities by the KNF members.

The KNF surfaced on the scene last year after the Indian border forces arrested a dozen members with arms and ammunition in Mizoram.
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Bangladesh Army demolishes a base of Kuki Chin.

 

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Militant outfit Kuki Chin involved in bank robberies: home minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said members of the militant outfit Kuki Chin are involved in the bank robberies at Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban

www.thedailystar.net

Militant outfit Kuki Chin involved in bank robberies: home minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan. Star file photo

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said members of the militant outfit Kuki Chin are involved in the bank robberies at Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban.

"Kuki Chin was involved in the bank robbery and firearms looting incidents. They also assaulted police constables, bank guards and Ansars," he told journalists at his ministry office in the capital.

"First, they switched off the electricity substation and then started looting valuables and firearms. Later, they abducted a local Sonali Bank manager when he was performing Tarabi prayers," he said.

The minister said that the militant outfit is also responsible for today's looting of cash and valuables at Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank at Thanchi.

The minister, however, said an investigation is ongoing to unveil more information regarding the incidents.

Police and BGB are carrying out operations to capture the culprits and rescue the looted items, he added.

"We will do everything necessary to bring the situation under control. Police and BGB have been carrying out their duties. If necessary, Bangladesh Army will also join the operation against Kuki Chin and other militant outfits," he added.

Kamal said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, Special Branch Chief Md Monirul Islam and other high officials are now in Bandarban to assess the situation.

Replying to a question about border killings, he said that talks are going on with India to stop border killings. Basically, citizens of both countries who are engaged in illegal businesses are victims of such incidents, he added.​

 

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Situation tense after Thanchi Bazar gunfight

The gunfight that erupted in Bandarban's Thanchi Bazar area has stopped, said police

www.thedailystar.net

Situation tense after Thanchi Bazar gunfight

Thanchi upazila. Image: Google Maps

The gunfight that erupted in Bandarban's Thanchi Bazar area has stopped, said police.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chattogram Range Police Nure Alam Mina told The Daily Star that the KNF terrorists opened fire on Thanchi Police Station from the east and south sides of the Thanchi Hill around 8:30pm prompting retaliatory fire by the law enforcers.

Later, the BGB and army personnel posted there also opened fire on the militants, he said.

"The situation is calm now. However, the situation is tense here. We are on alert," he added.

However, the gunfight triggered panic among the locals in the market and adjacent areas, days after armed terrorists robbed Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank in Thanchi Bazar.

Within 200 to 300 yards of Thanchi Bazar is Thanchi Police Station, a BGB camp. There is also a Bangladesh Army checkpost near the bazar.​