NEWS No. 12/2007, May 09, 2007
Former Shanti Bahini rebel commander Mr. Tatindra Lal Chakma, better known as Pele, his nom de guerre, and another JSS activist were arrested on 5 May in Khagrachari, Northern Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Both of them were held by joint forces for allegedly demanding toll from Grameen Bank, the bank of micro credit Guru Mohammad Yunus, who won Nobel Peace Prize a few months back.
The police first arrested Nagor Chakma, 31, an active member of the Jana Samhati Samiti, from his Boradom residence in Dighinala of the district. This was soon followed by the arrest of Major Pele, 47. He was picked up from his residence in Khagrachari town.
JSS members alleged that police used torture tactics to extract statement from Nagor Chakma admitting to being involved in toll collection.
Pele’s wife said her husband is a victim of a deep conspiracy. “I know who have instigated the police to arrest my husband”, she said alluding to the internal feuds and frictions within the JSS.
The former rebel commander has been at odds with Santu Larma, the president of JSS, over the question of peace negotiations with UPDF, another political party of the Jumma people founded in 1998. Pele and his followers favour a negotiated settlement of the intra-Jumma conflict, while Santu Larma and his hawkish lieutenants opt for a military solution. The difference blossomed into an open clash in Dighinala in February which claimed the lives of two JSS members.
Sources from Khagrachari said Pele is being questioned by joint forces and that no formal case has been filed against him.
“He is one of the best military commanders the Jumma struggle has ever produced and as a commander he was popular with both the Shanti Bahini members and the people at large” said one of his colleagues in praise of Mr. Pele. “Therefore, it is not surprising that many Jummas would view his arrest as an attempt to vilify a great struggle that they had been very much part of.”
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