UP chairman's alleged bid to grab Santal people's land
75 families under threat in Dinajpur
Around 75 families of ethnic Santal community at Piplya Kanchan Guchchagram, a cluster village of Biral upazila under the district, have been under a sort of captivity since Friday as the local union parishad (UP) chairman and his men allegedly ordered them to leave their ancestral home.
Md Moslem Uddin, chairman of Dhamoir UP under Biral upazila, beat up Resam, 25, son of Biren Bhunjar of Piplya Kanchan Guchchagram, when he was returning from Dhukurjhari village of the upazila on Friday afternoon, witnesses said.
Moslem also beat up Resam's uncle Nakul Bhunjar, 55, as he protested the attack on his nephew. Later locals rushed them to Biral upazila health complex.
On Friday night, Moslem's sons Masud and Ruman along with 10/12 men went to the village on motorbikes and threatened them of dire consequences if they do not leave the village immediately, said Banni Bhunjan, a resident of the village.
Residents of the village stopped going out, even to attend their work, as the chairman and his sons with hired goons continued threatening them, said Harimohan Bhunjari, chief of the community at the village.
Locals alleged that the UP chairman continued to intimidate the indigenous people of the area to grab 7.03 acres of land at Piplya Kanchan Guchchagram under Dhamoir union.
Seeking a solution to their problems, the ethnic people of the village submitted a memorandum to Biral Upazila Nirbahi Officer Golam Rabbi on Saturday.
Asked about the matter, the UNO said, "After receiving the memorandum, we have arranged police patrol in the area to ensure safety of the villagers. A meeting will be held tomorrow [Tuesday] to settle the matter."
Contacted, UP Chairman Moslem Uddin said he beat up the two people for not showing 'proper' respect to him.
He, however, denied giving any threat to the villagers.
"I don't understand why we were beaten," said Resam lying at Biral upazila health complex.
His uncle Nakul Bhunjar filed a case with Biral police station, accusing UP Chairman Moslem Uddin and his sons for the brutal attack.
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