Hindu family faces eviction threat

A family from the minority community in Kurigram's Phulbari upazila is now living in fear of eviction from their ancestral home by an influential land grabber.

Locals said there had been a longstanding rivalry between Ratikant Roy, 45, a day labourer from Naodanga village, and one Azimul Islam of the same village over the ownership land.

Ratikant alleged that Azimul and his men are trying to evict them from their ancestral home for long.

"Azimul's men attacked my family thrice in the last one year," he said.

On May 14 this year, a gang led by Azimul, equipped with sharp weapons, tried to attack him and his wife, but they somehow managed to flee the scene, Ratikant said adding that, "Then I dialled 999 and sought help from the local police, who reached the spot and the situation."

On April 22, Ratikant and his wife Dadoshi Rani were brutally beaten up by Azimul and his cohorts.

"After the brutal torture my wife had to take treatment at Phulbari Upazila Health Complex for six days.

On April 27, he filed a case with Kurigram Judicial Magistrate's Court accusing six people including Azimul, Ratikant said.

Currently police are investigating the case.

Earlier, on August 9 last year, some unidentified criminals vandalised a temple at Ratikant's house and set the temple afire.

The following day, a case was filed with Phulbari Police Station accusing some unnamed attackers.

After investigation, police submitted a report before the court on January 1 this year where they mentioned the attackers could not be identified.

"Although we did not saw the attackers on that night, we believe that Azimul and his men launched the attack," Ratikant claimed.

 Ratikant's wife Dadoshi said, "Though we have been facing constant inhuman torture for long, we are not getting proper justice."

They have been passing days amid insecurity as the attackers are continuously threatening them with dire consequences, she added.

Contacted, Azimul admitted that he has a land related dispute with Ratikant, but denied the allegation of attacking Ratikant and his family members.

"Ratikant filed a false case to harass me," Azimul alleged.

Meanwhile, Officer in Charge (OC) of Phulbari Police Station Fazlur Rahman said he will hold a discussion with Ratikant and Azimul soon to resolve the issue.