Rangamati, MAY 27 (V7N) – A court in Rangamati has convicted and sentenced Ubach Marma (20), who is identified as the president and upazila chairman of the Rajasthali Upazila Awami League, to six months in prison. The verdict was delivered in a case filed in Rajasthali, Rangamati, stemming from allegations of abuse of power and the beating of a local Sanatan Dharma follower for Tk 2 million.

Magistrate Mohammad Asif of the Rangamati Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court delivered the verdict on Monday (May 26) afternoon. Gainda Union Parishad Chairman Puchimang Marma (45), local headman Uthin Ching Marma (50), and local shopkeeper Sanjay Banik (42) were acquitted in the same case.

Md. Shah Alam, the plaintiff's lawyer and a lawyer at the Rangamati Judge Court, confirmed the matter. He stated that Jisshu Saha (45), a minority businessman from the traditional community in Rajasthali, was tied to a tree and beaten by Upazila Chairman Ubach Marma. Saha was also allegedly threatened with disappearance and having his business taken over if he did not pay Tk 2 million.

The incident is reported to have taken place at the Rajasthali Upazila Parishad office on February 5, 2024. Subsequently, on February 27, the victim Jisshu Saha filed a case against four individuals in the Rangamati Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. On Monday, the Rangamati Chief Judicial Magistrate Court delivered the six-month prison sentence.

The complaint filed states that Upazila Chairman Ubach Marma issued a letter on February 3. It mentioned that two people named Sanjay Banik and Saju Banik had filed a complaint against Jisshu Saha. An emergency meeting was called at the Upazila Parishad on February 5 to resolve the complaint. However, Jisshu Saha was busy with urgent work that day and informed them. Then, on February 6, at 11:20 am, they all gathered in the meeting room of the Upazila Chairman's building. As soon as Jisshu Saha arrived, Upazila Chairman Ubach Marma allegedly tied him up with ropes and verbally abused him.

The same order was purportedly given to UP Chairman Puching Mong Marma and Headman Uthin Ching Marma of Mouza No. 2328. They all allegedly tied Jisshu Saha to a pillar and severely beat him. Later, they reportedly demanded Tk 2 million from him, threatening to disappear him and forcibly take over his business if the money was not paid.

Jibon Chakma, the lawyer for the accused, expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict. He stated, "The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court of Rangamati has sentenced Ubach Marma to six months in prison. The remaining three have been acquitted. We are not satisfied with this verdict at all. An application for immediate bail has been filed. The court has granted anticipatory bail. We will appeal this verdict to the High Court."

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Ubach Marma, while serving as the chairman of Gainda Union and identified as the president and upazila chairman of the Rajasthali Upazila Awami League, had previously recognized Dr. Renin Suu, a prominent leader of Myanmar's separatist rebel organization Arakan Army, as a citizen of Bangladesh by providing him with a citizenship certificate.

It was also noted that on the night of August 26, 2015, joint forces raided a luxurious brick building in College Para, Rajasthali, and arrested Arakan Army member Aung Nu Yan Rakhine. The following day, the house's caretakers Jasu Aung Marma and Aung Su Aung Marma were also arrested.

A month after this incident, on October 14, in a separate operation by the BGB and police, the fugitive Arakan Army leader Dr. Renin Soe K was apprehended from Islampur, Rajasthan. During the investigation, it was discovered that Renin Soe held citizenship in three countries: Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the Netherlands.

Furthermore, multiple reliable local sources reported that a family member of Ubach Marma, who was allegedly operating under the guise of the Awami League, was his own younger brother, a member of the Myanmar government intelligence agency.

END/AMR/RH/