HC summons DC over remark on Santal issue
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The High Court yesterday summoned the Gaibandha deputy commissioner on December 12 to explain a derogatory remark he used in a report over the attack on Santals in Gobindaganj upazila submitted to it on November 30 following its earlier order.
Deputy Commissioner Md Abdus Samad will have to appear before the bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath by 10:30am.
He had stated that Santal people and “Bangali miscreants” were locked in a clash with workers of Rangpur sugar mill on November 6.
Hearing a writ petition yesterday, the HC said the Pakistani occupation forces used languages, including “Bangali dushkritikari” (Bangali miscreants).
The bench also ordered the Gaibandha superintendent of police and Gobindaganj Police Station officer-in-charge to produce Swapan Mormu, a local of Gaibandha who filed a case over the clash, that day to explain the reason for filing the case.
The HC also fixed December 12 for passing further orders on the issue.
The mill authorities submitted a report to the HC informing that they harvested paddy from all 49 acres land and handed it over to Santals as per the court order.
The clash broke out between the Santals, mill staff and police over eviction of the indigenous people from the disputed land. The clash left three Santal men dead and 20 others, including nine policemen, injured.
Responding to a writ petition filed by three rights organisations including Ain o Salish Kendra, the HC on November 17 directed the government to ensure security and free movement of the Santals, to allow Santal families to harvest the paddy and to submit a report on legal steps taken over the attack.
ZI Khan Panna, AM Aminuddin and Obu Obaidur Rahman appeared for the petitioners, while Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Sazu represented the government.
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