Criminals destroy 2000 betel, 4000 melon plants

Criminals cut over 2,000 betel plants at a Khasi village in Baralekha upazila under the district while 4,000 water melon plants were destroyed by spraying weed killer medicine at a field in Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district on Monday night.

Our Moulvibazar Correspondent reports: A gang cut over 2,000 betel plants at Gandhai Punjee, a village inhabited by Khasi people in Baralekha upazila under the district.

Seventy to eighty people attacked Gandhai punjee and cut the betel plants (10 to 15 feet in height) there on Monday night, locals told this correspondent during his visit to the spot yesterday.

"An unidentified gang demanded Tk 5 lakh from me over mobile on February 27. I didn't meet the demand and possibly the gang cut the betel plants worth Tk 20 lakh," said Rajesh Posna, headman of Gandhai Punjee.

"We demand arrest and punishment of the people involved in the heinous act," he said.

Father Joseph Gomes, central committee member of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, condemned the act.

The betel gardens are the only source of income of the Khasi people, he said.

Md Moniruzzaman, officer in charge of Barlekha Police Station, said they will take legal action against the culprits after investigation.

Our Patuakhali Correspondent adds: Criminals destroyed over 4,000 watermelon plants in five bighas of land by spraying weed killer medicine on a field of Krisnapur village under Kalapara upazila in the district.

The plants with thousands of fruits are dying as they sprayed weed killer medicine at night, said Motaleb Munshi, owner of the water melon field.

"This season I spent over Tk one lakh to cultivate watermelon and the fruit was growing well. Only after three weeks, I would earn minimum Tk 3 lakh by selling the popular fruit. But enemies have done great loss to me," said a tearful Motaleb.

"I recently filed a case accusing a few neighbours over a land dispute. They might have committed the crime," he said.

Mizanur Rahman, sub assistant agriculture officer, confirmed that the watermelon plants were destroyed by spraying weed killer medicine.