8 villagers kidnapped in Rangamati

People of a Rangamati village yesterday claimed that eight villagers loyal to the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) were abducted by armed men supporting the peace treaty.
They claimed that the eight men were abducted from their homes at Naraichhari village, a few kilometres away from Suvalong Bazar under Barkal upazila of the district.
Barkal police, however, said that they had no information of such an incident.
UPDF, which claimed the abductions, said Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) was behind it. However, PCJSS refuted the allegation.
Locals residents identified the abducted men as Kala Chan Chakma, 42, Kiron Chakm, 28, Tuttrasingh Chakma, 45, Fuleswar Chakma, 45, Nirati Lal Chakma, 47, Padma Lal Chakma, 46, Ripon Chakma, 25 and Gayana Ranjan Chakma, 35 - all residents of the same village.
Villagers, seeking anonymity, told The Daily Star over phone that a group of pro-peace armed men, numbering around 15, arrived at Naraichhari village at about 1:30 in the afternoon. They picked up the eight villagers at gun point and left with them.
Micheal Chakma, secretary of the central committee of Gono Tantrik Juba Forum (GTJF), an associate body of UPDF, yesterday blamed PCJSS for the abductions. He condemned the incident and demanded immediate release of the villagers.
Sajib Chakma, assistant information secretary of PCJSS central unit, refuted the allegation.
“I don't know anything about such abduction. UPDF is trying to destroy the image of PCJSS by such false propaganda,” he said.
Masood Ul Hasan, Rangamati superintendent of police, said he had no news of the abduction.