Criminals torch 2 more betel leaf gardens
Criminals torched two more betel-leaf gardens on four bighas of land in Tala upazila of Satkhira district within a span of 12 days.
The first incident occurred at village Khalishkhali under the same upazila on March 22. On the day, a gang of criminals set fire to a betel-leaf garden owned by Devabrata Pal.
Yesterday, the criminals entered the two gardens owned by Bikash Kumar Ghosh and Prasit Kumar Kundu of Kumira Ghoshara village of Tala upazila at around 11:00am and set them afire.
Betel leaves worth Tk 7 lakh were completely destroyed by the fire, farmers and witnesses said. On information, fire fighters from Satkhira reached the spot after 30 minutes of the incident and extinguished the fire at the two gardens with the help of locals, said villager Ramesh Chandra Ghosh.
Contacted, Bikash Ghosh told this correspondent that some local influential people might have hand behind the heinous act.
He said he took Tk one lakh loan from a commercial bank and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to cultivate betel leaves. "How shall I repay the loan," said Bikash, adding that he has no other means to maintain his family.
Prasit Kundu said he took Tk 75,000 in loan from local a commercial bank and cultivated betel leaves on two bighas of land.
'I have sold betel leaf worth Tk 20,000 only. "What shall I do now?" he posed a question to this correspondent.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Patkelghata Police Station said they are looking for the culprits involved.
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