Their rights body demands punishment

Bangladesh Dalit Parishad's Khulna unit yesterday demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators who vandalised some 20 houses of the community and injured six of them at Baka village in Paikgachha upazila of Khulna on November 7.

At a press conference in Khulna Press Club, Ashok Das, central general secretary, said some miscreants led by Taposh Ghosh, a Brahman, launched an attack on the community with sharp weapons following a feud between the children of the two communities over playing football. They also threatened the Dalits with life if they do not leave the village, he added.

The attackers also threatened them not to use the title "Das" which, they claimed, is only meant for the higher casts.

Denying the allegations, Taposh claimed that it is the Dalits who are conspiring to grab his land on which they are currently residing.

Taposh filed a case soon after the Dalits sued him on November 8. Paikgachha police said they are investigating the matter. The injured were admitted to upazila health complex.