Gaibandha Santals cry for justice

Three years have elapsed but Santals are yet to get justice for the killing of three of their men.

They are not even getting return of their forefather’s property.

More than 2,000 Santal and Bangalee families were ousted from the “disputed” farmland, on which Rangpur Sugar Mill was established during an eviction drive at Shahebganj cane farm in Gobindaganj upazila in 2016.

Leaders of Santal community said this at a protest meeting on Motherpur Church premises in the upazila yesterday. Philimon Baske, president of Shahebganj-Bagda Farm Bhumi Uddher Sangram Committee, presided over the programme.

On November 6 in 2016, three Santal men -- Shaymol Hembrom, Mongal Murdi and Romesh Todu -- were killed and many others injured during an eviction drive at Sahebganj sugarcane farm.

The deceased were Shaymol Hembrom, Mongal Murdi and Romesh Todu.

The eviction took place following a violent clash between the families, mill employees and police.

Police and locals also torched their houses and looted valuables, said the speakers at the programme.

On November 16 the same year, Swapan Murmu filed a case on behalf of the community against 33 people, including former lawmaker Abul Kalam Azad and Sapmara union parishad chairman Sakil Ahmed Bulbul.

On July 30 this year, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Gaibandha submitted a charge sheet against 90 people for killing three Santal men and torching and looting of Santal houses during the drive at the cane farm.

But names of main accused -- former lawmaker Azad and Sapmara UP chairman Bulbul -- have been excluded in the charge sheet.

The speakers at the meeting also demanded a fresh charge sheet incorporating the names of the prime accused in the attack.

Zaferullah Islam Prodhan, secretary of Shahebganj-Bagda Farm Bhumi Uddher Sangram Committee, Shamol Murdy, ethnic leader of Rangpur, Pricila Murmu, leader of Nari Adivasi, Sufal Hebrom, Barnabus Tudu and Dijen Tudu, among others, spoke.