Hindus of 2 villages recall Jan 5 horror
Fear of attack is prevailing among the Hindu community people in Kornai and Telipara villages under Sadar upazila with the approach of the 11th national election, to be held on December 30.
On January 5 in 2014, Hindus of these two villages came under attack on the voting day of the 10th national elections. Thirty-four structures, mostly houses and shops, belonging to Hindus were either damaged or set on fire, just to stop them from voting, they said.
“We will never forget the horrific day,” said Fani Bala, 52, wife of Sontosh Chandra Roy, a farm worker of Kornai village. Villagers are apprehending such attacks again, during and after voting day.
According to locals, the attackers were from those political parties that had boycotted the 10th national elections.
Activists of Jamaat and BNP were behind the attack, said local Awami League leader Biswajit Ghosh Kanchan.
But Mofazzal Hossain Dulal, convener of Dinajpur district BNP, denied the allegation against his party and alliance partner Jamaat.
On voting day on January 5 in 2014, a large number of people in small groups had taken position at different places of Kornai and Telipara villages since morning. They were carrying local arms, said Prembala, 60 of Telipara village.
At around 11:30am, they attacked Hindus of Telipara village, said Prembala. “We fled home leaving our belongings,” she said. Houses of Kalibilash Roy, Ananta Chandra Roy and Kiran Chandra Roy were also attacked, she added.
Later, they attacked the Hindus at Kornai village.
"They attacked the Hindus just to prevent them from voting, We are afraid such attacks may take place again this year," said Ananta Chandra Roy.
The criminals set fire to the houses and a three-wheeler Nasiman of Sontosh Chandra Roy at Kornai village.
The situation improved after a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) patrol team arrived at the village in the afternoon.
Later, BGB rebuilt the torched houses.
“BGB helped us and rebuilt our damaged houses and shops free of cost, but the pain due to the attack is unforgettable,” Sontosh said.
After the incidents, a temporary police post had been set up at Kornai village, but it was withdrawn two years later.
Kartik Chandra, an elderly man of Telipara, said three cases were filed with Dinajpur Sadar Police Station in connection with the attacks and Criminal Investigation Department filed charge sheet one and a half years later.
Six Hindu families have left the village for India, fearing attacks again, he said, adding, “We hope such incidents will not take place here again."
Redwanur Rahim, OC of the police station, said the situation improved a lot in the last five years. Police and BGB are patrolling the villages round the clock so the villagers feel secure.
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