Writ plea filed to know circumstance, authorisation

Three rights organisations yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking an explanation from the government authorities concerned under what authority and circumstances police used firearms on Santals in Gaibandha's Gobindganj on November 6.

The Ain o Salish Kendra, Brotee and Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) submitted the petition seeking HC directives upon the government to ensure security of Santals' lives and properties so that they could move freely.

They also urged the court to ask the authorities what legal steps have been taken over the attack and to order providing compensation for the victims and not to unlawfully harass Santals.

They prayed to issue a rule asking the authorities to explain why their inaction to ensure security to the lives and properties of Santals should not be declared illegal and why they should not be ordered to take necessary steps to this effect. The petitioners' lawyer, advocate Abu Obaidur Rahman, citing from the petition, told The Daily Star that some Santals were critically injured but could not file any case.

Many of them are still practically confined and cannot freely move, which goes against the constitutional provision of equal right to protection of law and right to free movement, he said.

Violating the constitutional provision, many Santals have been tortured inhumanly, he said, adding that the HC may hold a hearing today.

Three sandals died and 25 people were injured while 20 houses were looted during a clash between the indigenous community and labourers as well as police at the Shahebganj sugarcane farm of Rangpur Sugar Mills.