Santals cry for justice

The Santals are yet to receive any justice after one year of the killings in the name of eviction as they are from a minority ethnic community.

Speakers said this at a protest meeting organised by Bagda Farm Bhumi Uddhar Sangram Committee yesterday to observe November 6 as Santal killing, arson and looting day.

Hundreds of Santal males and females from Santal villages Joypurpara and Madarpur joined the rally at Sapmara Government Primary School after placing wreaths at a local Shaheed Minar in memory of their slain community members.

They chanted slogans for return of their forefathers' lands at Shahebganj cane farm, which now belongs to Rangpur Sugar Mills.

There has been no headway in the case filed on November 16 last year, accusing 33 people by name, including Gaibandha-4 lawmaker and Sapmara Union Parishad chairman, speakers said. They said police arrested three people in this connection, but they are out on bail.

They demanded Tk 20 lakh for each killed and Tk 10 lakh for each injured as compensation from the government.

They threatened to intensify agitation if the accused involved in the killings, arson and looting were not arrested immediately.

Bagda Farm Bhumi Uddhar Sangram Committee Vice-President Philimon Baske presided over the meeting.

CPB Advisory Council member Manjurul Ahsan Khan, NAP President Pankaj Bhattacharji and Jatiya Adivasi Parishad President Rabindranath Soren spoke at the meeting.