Santals under threat to withdraw FIR

Local leaders of Santal community are getting indirect threats from ruling party men to withdraw the FIR filed against public representatives and influential people, grassroots level Santal leaders said.

Meanwhile, different organisations continued agitation at Gobindaganj upazila demanding withdrawal of the name of the local lawmaker from the FIR filed by Santals.

"I heard some ruling party men are indirectly threatening local Santal leaders to withdraw the FIR, but no ruling party leader asked me for initiating its withdrawal," said Philimon Baske, vice-president of Bhumi Uddhar Committee.

A meeting of freedom fighters, students and people organised by Gobindaganj freedom fighters was held on Gobindaganj Press Club premises on Saturday. Syed Shams-ul-Alam Hiru, president district Awami League (AL), was present as chief guest.

Hiru said, "Out of jealousy at the popularity of Awami League, a section intentionally filed a false FIR against Gobindagnaj lawmaker Principal Abul Kalam Azad. We demand its immediate withdrawal and a solution to the Santal problem."

A clash between police and farm labourers on one side and the Santals on the other took place at Shahebganj sugarcane farm on November 6 over the issue of harvesting the crop, in which three Santal men were killed and 30 people, including cops, sustained injuries.

Eleven days after the incident, Swapon Murmu of Rampura village filed an FIR against 600 unknown accused. Police arrested 21 people in this connection.

Three weeks after the incident, Thomas Hambrom filed an FIR accusing 33 people by name, including lawmaker Principal Abul Kalam Azad, the president of upazila AL, and 600 unknown others.