Attack on Santals pre-planned

Santals, other indigenous people, and members of the civil society yesterday said attack on the Santal people in Gaibandha was pre-planned.

They said this at a human chain programme in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj protesting the barbaric attack on Santal families in Gaibandha.

They organised the programme under the banner of “Santal tea workers.”

They alleged that Santals were victims of an attack carried out jointly by ruling party leaders, local administration and police, aiming to evict them from their land.

They demanded security of the ethnic minority people and return of their lands that were acquired to cultivate sugarcane for Rangpur Sugar Mill.

They also urged the government to settle the issue as soon as possible by giving the ownership of the lands to Santals.

The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the attackers and exemplary punishment to them.

Tea worker Sumon Murmu hails from Golapganj village under Gaibandha's Gobindaganj upazila, but lives in Baikunthapur tea garden of Madhabpur upazila. He was a participant in the programme.

Sumon told this correspondent that his parents had lost everything in the attack. Most of his relatives asked him to go to India, he added.

Jagoron Jubo Forum President Mohon Robidas alleged that a local ruling party member with law enforcers and sugar mill authorities planned the attack on the Santals.

Local UP member Babul Chowhan, Sadhon Chowhan, and Baikunthapur Tea Garden Union General Secretary Monib Karmakar spoke at the human chain.