After Tripura HC steps in on ‘religious persecution’ against 2 converted families, Chakma body says no ostracisation

The petitioners, Purnomoy Chakma and Tarun Chakma from West Andharcherra village of Unakoti district, stated that two Chakma social organisations, the Chakma Samajik Bichar Committee and Adam Panchayat, had expelled them from the community’s social life. Since then, the organisations also allegedly issued social ostracisation orders against them.

The petitions were raised for hearing before a single bench of the high court where Justice Arindam Lodh took stern note of the case and asked the Chakma bodies to stop “unconstitutional” diktats at the earliest, failing which the administration and police would take strict steps.

“A total of 16 families converted to another religion in the village. Of them, 14 now returned to Buddhism and are observing all social norms and cultures,” TRCSP state secretary Shanti Bikash Chakma said after a one-day Chakma General Assembly held in Agartala on Thursday.

The justice system of the Chakma community is divided into four categories; it begins with the Gram Panchayat and ends with the TRCSP.

Shanti Bikash Chakma said that the social rituals and culture of the Chakma community were ancient and people were getting the benefits of the Chakma society as they were observing the community’s rituals, customs and culture.

“We, the Chakma community are living in Tripura hundreds of years ago. Our rituals and traditions, culture are going on for several years. We could introduce ourselves as the Chakma community due to this culture. We are also getting facilities and constitutional rights due to our Chakma culture and tradition,” he said, adding that if anybody converted to another religion, he would not follow this culture and would be out of the community.

“The decision of the TRCSP, in any case, will be the final one. In the age of globalisation, our identity is at stake. Proper steps should be taken to preserve our culture and social customs. We want to tell the state government that the Bill of our customary law that was passed in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) should be codified soon,” said Shanti Bikash Chakma.

On October 17, the Tripura High Court had instructed the administration to take immediate steps and arrest the alleged perpetrators, if necessary.