Hindu families living in fear of land grabbers

Three Hindu families, with members who fought in the Liberation War, are now living in fear of attacks by land grabbers in Biroi village of Gafargaon, Mymensingh.

The families are facing threats of eviction from their ancestral lands.

On September 28, the criminals assaulted the family members and beat them up. Some of the family members then fled the area. They have come back recently with police protection.

Paritosh Chandra Singha, 60, said his family and the families of his two brothers have lived in their ancestral land all their lives. Four of his family members were freedom fighters.

"After the Liberation War, we exchanged 27-decimal of land out of a 51-decimal plot with a neighbour named Rajab Ali," said Paritosh.

Around 15 year ago, Rajab's son Abdul Awal Bacchu sold the land to a local influential person named Mostafa Mia, 40.

Immediately after taking possession of that 27-decimal land, Mostafa started grabbing the adjacent lands.

"At one stage, he took away the entire 51 decimals. He has dug a pond and constructed a semi-concrete house on the disputed land.

"If we demand our land, Mostafa and his cohorts threaten us with life," Paritosh added.

His nine-year-old son was fishing in the pond on September 28. Mostafa's cohorts drove him away and threatened to beat him up, if he went there again.

Around 11:00pm that day, Mostafa along with a local named Alal Miah, 50, and some others attacked Paritosh's house and beat up all the family members.

Neighbours rescued them and sent them to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

Paritosh's wife Dipa lodged a case with Pagla Police Station accusing Mustafa among others two days later.

A court then sent Mostafa to jail and granted bail to the other accused.

"We do not want to lose our ancestral lands. We are so miserable that we have to live in our home with police protection," Paritosh told The Daily Star.

Md Shahinuzzaman Khan, officer-in-charge of Pagla Police Station, said he is keeping regular contacts with the families and necessary measures were taken for their safety.

Roksana Begum, chairman of Duttaer Bazar Union Parishad, said she would take measures for ensuring their safety.