At least three people were killed and dozens injured on Sunday as clashes erupted between aboriginal tribesmen and the Bengali settler community in southeastern Bangladesh, following the alleged gang rape of a tribal girl.The unrest first began in Khagrachhari district headquarters, where tribal groups, mainly from the Chakma and Marma communities, enforced a roadblock with burning tyres, tree trunks, and bricks on Saturday. Authorities responded by restricting movement and rallies, but the violence later spread to the Guimara area, 36 kilometres south of the district headquarters.“Three people were killed in gunshots at Guimara. Their bodies have been kept at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital,” said police deputy inspector general Ahsan Habib, as quoted by PTI.
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“The authorities have enforced Section 144, but a curfew-like situation prevails at Khagrachhari town as people preferred to stay indoors fearing outbreak of escalating violence,” senior journalist Jiten Barua told PTI.The clashes followed the alleged gang rape of an eighth-grade schoolgirl on Tuesday. The girl was reportedly found by her parents and neighbours around midnight in an unconscious state after returning from private tuition. She received treatment at a local hospital. Police later arrested a Bengali teenager suspected to be involved and placed him under six-day remand for questioning.The violence also injured 13 army personnel and three policemen, according to the home ministry in Dhaka.The home ministry issued a statement on Sunday evening expressing regret over the casualties, pledging legal action against those responsible, and urging residents to remain calm. “The ministry of home affairs has expressed deep sorrow over the incident in which three hill people were killed and 13 army personnel, including a major, three policemen, including the OC of Guimara Police Station and many others were injured in an attack by miscreants in Guimara Upazila of Khagrachhari district,” said the statement.
