<i>Ensure Hirua's land right, protect his family</i>

Around a hundred indigenous people under the banner of 'Jatiya Adivashi Parishad' yesterday formed a human chain at Shaheb Bazer zero point protesting a bid to evict indigenous people from their land and harassment by influential settlers.
Later, speakers at a protest meeting at the same venue alleged that a local influential at Jamdaha village under Godagari upazila of Rajshahi tried to evict adivashi Hirua Sarder from his land.
They said recently the aforesaid person applied to the government for lease of khas land now enjoyed by Hirua.
As he failed to get lease, the person along with 15 other settlers Sunday attacked Hirua Sarder's house, beat his wife and looted and damaged properties, they alleged.
They also threatened Hirua and asked him to leave the khas land and village immediately, they said.
The next day, Hirua filed a case with Godagari police station and police arrested one person in this connection.
The arrestee's hired goons are now threatening Hirua Sarder. They asked him to withdraw the case or face death, they said.
The indigenous people yesterday urged the government to protect Hirua and his rights on khas land and ensure security of his family members.
They also demanded exemplary punishment to the land grabbers who tried to evict Hirua from his land.
Jatiya Adivashi Parishad central president Anil Maradi, secretary Rabindra Nath Saran, Rajshahi unit president Bimon Chandra Rajwar, secretary Sushen Kumar, indigenous leader Rajkumar Shaw and Harendra Nath Singh addressed the meeting.