[Santal children, displaced due to the violence on
November 6 over land dispute in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj, were living a
woeful life under open sky. The picture was taken on November 9, 2016]
A delegation of the BNP has blamed the local Awami League lawmaker and the union paarishad chairman for leading the eviction of Santals from Shahebganj-Bagda Farm area in Gaibandha on November 6.
The team led
by BNP chairperson’s advisory panel member Zainul Abdin Farooq visited
the affected area yesterday morning and spoke to the Santals.
Talking to reporters, he demanded a judicial inquiry into the
incident and asked the government to take necessary measures so that no
culprit can escape.
“No one including the religious minorities is safe during the
incumbent Awami League-led government. We will ensure fair investigation
if the party assumes office,” Farooq said.
They also distributed 200 sarees and lungis among the victims.
Some 150 families accepted government aid from an executive
magistrate on Wednesday, five days after they rejected relief materials
from the local UNO, Abdul Hannan, who had allegedly ordered the police
to open fire on the Santals.
On November 6, Gobindaganj upazila administration evicted around
2,000 families from their ancestral land of 15 villages in
Sahebganj-Bagda area in Gaibandha. Three Santal men died and at least 30
others were injured as they protested the eviction drive carried out by
the police and RAB members.
The local Bangalis, allegedly loyal to the local lawmaker, were
invited to take part in the eviction through loudspeakers. They looted
the houses before burning them to ashes. They also attacked the Santal
houses the following day.
Police filed a case naming 42 Santals and 300-400 unnamed persons for
obstructing the law enforcers from performing their duties during the
drive. Three injured Santals were shown arrested in the case.
On the other hand, a Santal man from the nearby area named Swapan
Marmu who was not affected by the eviction drive filed a case early
Thursday accusing 500-600 unknown people for the attack on the
indigenous peoples’ houses, deaths, looting houses and arson attacks.
Five local Muslims were arrested soon after filing of the case, which
Santal leaders term mysterious and claim was filed under the pressure
of the police as the law enforcers are trying to save the main culprits.
Three more Bangalis were arrested in the case on Thursday night. They
are Sadikul Islam and Lebu Mia of Katabari village, and Ziaur Rahman of
Norengabad village under the upazila.
Locals say many male persons have fled their houses to evade wholesale arrest.
The affected Santals are set to file a case over the November 6
incident on Sunday or Monday, said Jatiya Adivasi Parishad President
Rabindranath Soren. The case filed by Swapan Marmu could be a
conspiracy.
Santal leader Philimon Busk alleged that Swapan Marmu was not an
affected person. He might have filed the case to serve the purpose of
some vested quarters.
Philimon urged the law enforcers not to harass any innocent Bangali
as the protesters who demand their ancestral land back from Rangpur
Sugar Mill also include Hindus and Muslims.
Superintendent of Police Ashraful Islam, however, claimed that they were conducting the investigation properly.
Source: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2016/11/19/bnp-fair-probe-santal-attack-party-assumes-office/
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