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Shantibahini men selling arms

From Nurul Alam
CHITTAGONG. Apr 29: Shantibahini insurgents have reportedly established links with mastans. terrorists an other activists here to sell them arms.
Sources said that severe fund constraints had forced the tribal rebels to sell their arms to cope with the burden of jungle life In the sanctuaries located in the scenic hilly region of the CHT.
According to reports from various sources, illegal arms and ammunition have already Hooded the Chittagong city areas aiid northern parts of ChiH^mg particularly Raozan. Fatikchari. Hathazari. Mirer-sharai and Sltakundu upazilas where open brandishing of
illegal arms, trading of gunshots and all other criminal acts have become a regular feature posing hazards to norma) life.
Jhc terrorists and mastans have procured most of the 11 le gal foretgn-madc arms and ammunition from the Shantibahini. sources informed.
Some of these Illegal arms and ammunition arc smuggled out secretly to other parts of the country, sources also re ported
A local political leader wanting anonymity told this cprrespondcnt that the Shan tibahinl men frequently visit the hillside villages of Raozan and Fatikchari to contact the alleifwl mastans and terrorists and other activists to sell them
The Shantlbahtnl men aided by the local mastans and terrorists also collect tolls from land owners and farmers of the hilly villages Including Dabua and Yaslanagar of Rao ran ofTkUkchari upazlla bordering the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the leader adder!
He alleged dial after the availability of large quantities of arms and ammunition from the Sliantlbahlnl the law and order situation In the whole of Chittagong haa deteriorated with aacoities and terrorist acts becoming rampant
The panic-stricken villagers alleged that the law enforcing agencies did little to recover the illegal arms and ammunition as well as to contain the terrorism there. The victims also hardly dare to lodge complaints against the terrorists.
A highly placed source Informed that the arms and ammunition procured from the Shantlbahtnl were also being used In campus violence both in Chittagong and Dhaka universities. The supply of arms from the Shantlbahtnl Is routed through the northern parts of Chittagong, the source added.
Meanwhile . sources said that the armed Shantibahlnl had undertaken a fresh strategy to collect the illegal tolls from the people living in the
three hili districts of the CHT • as the toll collections marked a drastic fall after the govern ment imposed a ban on the ex traction of timber and bamboo from the CHT forests
The tax collection by the
one crore a year from about taka eight crore previouvh the sources said adding that cm Iler they used to collect a big chunk of money against wood
^Xto^terj^fresh strategy the permanent yearly tax on the people of all professions and on all goods Including fishing
construction materials and cat-tleheads etc. the sources said.
Nothing in the CH? la spread from the Shantlbahtnl tax structure, said the sources adding that such tax collection was hardly followed before the ban on the extraction of timber and bamboo