New Delhi, Oct 3 (UNI) India today categorically rejected the false and baseless allegations by Bangladesh blaming New Delhi for the violence perpetrated on minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and slammed the interim government in Dhaka for being unable to maintain law and order and routinely trying to shift the blame elsewhere.
The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a briefing, also said that the Chief Advisor Mohd Yunus-led Interim government should conduct serious investigations into the actions of local extremists committing violence, arson and land grab against the minority communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
On September 29, Bangladesh Home Affairs Advisor Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that a certain quarter was trying to create an unstable situation in Khagrachhari in the CHT, “allegedly instigated by India or fascist elements”.
In response, the MEA spokesperson said: “We categorically reject these false and baseless allegations. The interim govt of Bangladesh, and we’ve spoken about it on several occasions, is unable to maintain law and order situation in the country, and has this habit of routinely trying to shift the blame elsewhere. It would do well for them to introspect and conduct serious investigations into the action of local extremists committing violence, arson and land grab against the minority communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.”
At least three people were killed and dozens injured on Sunday in clashes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh following protests over the alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl.
Violence spread from Khagrachhari town to Guimara, 36 km away, despite restrictions and the deployment of security forces. Khagrachchari is 270 km northeast of Dhaka.
Witnesses reported that homes and businesses were set ablaze during the clashes between Indigenous groups, who are mostly Buddhists, and Bengali settlers from the plains.
The girl was allegedly gang raped on her way from a private tuition and was reportedly found by her parents and neighbours at around midnight in an unconscious state in an isolated area in the town.
