UPDF, PCJSS blame each other

A group of people has allegedly demanded illegal toll from Para Development Committee (PDC) projects at Laxmichhari upazila of the district.
United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and Santu Larma faction of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) have blamed each other for such illegal act.
At a press conference held at Upajatiya Thikadar Kalyan Samity office in the town on Sunday, UPDF leaders held the local PCJSS men responsible for demanding illegal toll from PDC projects in the upazila. Some leaders of PDC were also present at the press conference and made the same allegation.
They alleged that a “Burka Party” led by Jotish Dewan, general secretary of the Laxmichhari unit of PCJSS, demanded Tk 20,000 from each of the 144 PDC projects in the upazila on March 24. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has given Tk 4 lakh to each project.
The UPDF and PDC leaders alleged that the gang also threatened to kill the project leaders if they failed to pay the amount in a week.
President of Hazachhari PDC Krishna Mohon Tripura, President of Tallapara PDC Shombu Karbari, President of Garamchhari PDC Noni Kumar Chakma and accountant of Koilash Mohajan para PDC Kusumtara Chakma were present at the conference.
Refuting the allegation, Laxmichhari PCJSS leader Jotish Dewan said UPDF arranged the press conference to tarnish the image of the pro-peace treaty organisation.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, he said the UPDF men are involved in illegal toll collection from PDC projects in the upazila.
Contacted, Officer-in-Charge of Laxmichhari Police Station Mohammad Kamrul Hassan said no such complaint was filed with the police station as of yesterday.