Road blockade in Sajek to resume Thursday
The road leading to Sajek. Photo: Agamir Somoy
The Sajek Gonoodhikar Rokkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association have announced that they will resume a road blockade in Sajek from Thursday after the administration failed to fulfill its promises.
The announcement was made in a joint statement sent to the media on Wednesday.
According to the statement, after a blockade on the Sajek tourist road on October 11, the administration assured the organizers that it would fulfill their three demands within 48 hours. These included removing armed members of the JSS. Based on the assurance, the indefinite blockade was suspended for 48 hours. However, the demands remained unfulfilled after the deadline passed, prompting the organizers to decide to resume the blockade.
In the joint statement, Babudhan Chakma, convener of the Sajek Gonoodhikar Rokkha Committee, and Notun Joy Chakma, president of the Sajek Karbari Association, said the administration had failed to remove armed JSS members stationed at various locations in Sajek.
They said the blockade had been suspended after the administration assured them on October 11 that their three demands would be fulfilled within 48 hours. However, no effective measures were taken as promised.
The leaders claimed that armed activities were continuing in Thalukchhara, Chilyatali, Noapara, Lalabak and Ujhoachhara in the Machalong area. They said the situation had created fear among local residents.
They alleged that the relevant authorities were not taking appropriate steps to ensure public safety or take effective action against the armed members.
The statement said the blockade would continue until the armed members were removed to protect public safety and lives and property and to stop acts of terrorism and harassment by the armed members.
The Sajek road blockade will resume on Thursday and continue until further notice.
However, the statement said emergency Fire Service vehicles, ambulances, vehicles carrying bodies, vehicles transporting emergency medicines and vehicles used by journalists for news coverage would remain exempt from the blockade.
