Indigenous Community in Dinajpur
Same old tale of violent attack by land grabber
A piece of land of an indigenous family at Aluari village in Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur district lies barren after musclemen of a land grabber axed around a hundred trees there on Saturday. Inset, hapless family members of the victims.Photo: STAR
Several families of an indigenous community at Aluari village in Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur district are passing days amid panic as musclemen of a local influential person made a violent attack on them to grab their land on Saturday afternoon. Md Afzal Hossain of Hazipara village of Phulbari upazila accompanied by about 100 people equipped with sharp weapons and wooden sticks attacked the indigenous people to grab about 2.5 acres of land belonging to Shupal Soren, son of late Ramu Soren, locals said. The village is home of about 30 indigenous families who have been living on government khas land for over 50 years. The attackers beat up the indigenous people, injuring at least six of them. Shupal Soren, 40, Mukhi Soren, 55, wife of late Ramu Soren, Ramnath Soren, 38, Gita Moni, 30, wife of Shupal Soren, Sunita Hemram, 27, wife of Manik Soren and Putul Murmu, 22, wife of Ramnath Soren were admitted to Phulbari Health Complex. The criminals damaged a number of houses, crops and a church made of corrugated iron sheets, axed about 100 trees of a graveyard of the indigenous people and looted goods during the attack, alleged the indigenous people. Informed, Phulbari police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Following the attack, Shupal and his family members have remained out of their house due to security threat. Shupal and his three brothers along with their families have been living on the khas land as their forefathers settled there 50 to 60 years ago, locals said. But Afzal Hossain, claiming that he bought the land, was giving threats to Shupal and his family of dire consequences if they do not leave the land, they alleged. Several times the victim family sought help from the local union parishad chairman but to no effect, said Shom Soren, an elderly person of the area. Even after Saturday's attack, Afzal and his men continued intimidating the indigenous people of the village to leave the place. They also threatened of worse consequences if any case is filed against them. Md Nabiul Islam, chairman of Aluari union parishad, also admitted that the indigenous people of the village have been living on the khas land for about 50 to 60 years. Afzal Hossain could not be contacted as he remained out of his residence while his cell phone was found switched off. AKM Sarwar, assistant commissioner (Land) of Phulbari upazila, declined to make any comments over the incident. Jonas Soren, brother of Supal Soren, filed a case with Phulbari police station on Sunday night accusing at least 22 people for Saturday's attack on indigenous people, said Md Shawkat Ali, officer-in-charge of Phulbari police station. Nobody was arrested in this connection.
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