Bimal Tripura’s death in Khagrachhari sparked by ‘land dispute clash’: police

Khagrachhari police have said the death of a man named Bimal Tripura, who succumbed to injuries after 13 days of hospitalisation following a clash between two rival groups, was the result of a "long-standing dispute over land ownership”.

At a media briefing on Saturday, Additional Police Superintendent Shahadat Hossain said: "While this incident was the result of a prolonged property disagreement, everyone must remain alert so that no 'malicious' quarters can attempt to divert the situation by framing it as an ethnic conflict between the hill and Bengali communities."

He explained that a dispute was ongoing between the families of Mongshitu Marma, 40, and Abdul Bashir, 57, both from Kamalchari Union’s Bhuachhari, over a plot of land at Rajshahi Tilla.

“On the afternoon of the 14th of January, a clash broke out between the two groups following an arson attack on the disputed land.

Bimal, Milan Chakma, and Thoihla Aung sustained injuries in the clash and were rushed to District General Hospital. 

Bashir, who suffered a severe head injury, was also hospitalised. 

As their conditions deteriorated, both Bimal and Bashir were subsequently transferred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

Mongshitu filed a case with Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station following the incident. A counter-case was filed by a woman named Mosammat Khadija.

In Mongshitu’s case, police arrested two men -- Abdur Rashid and Al Amin -- in Chattogram and Cumilla, respectively. 

In Khadija’s case, the accused surrendered before the court and were granted bail.

Bimal died on Friday night while undergoing treatment at CMCH.