Judicial probe body visits Gaibandha Santal village

A judicial probe body that was formed to investigate the forced eviction, killing and arson attacks on the Santal community in Gaibandha visited Madarpur and Joypurpara areas of the district on Tuesday morning.

The probe body went to Gobindaganj upazila to hear the affected people and witnesses in this connection, reports UNB news agency.

The judicial probe body, led by the district’s chief judicial magistrate Md Shahidullah, was formed following an order of the High Court (HC).

The chief judicial magistrate along with other members of the probe body visited the areas around 11:00am and heard the complaints of the victims of the Santal community.

Meanwhile, a team of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), led by Bogra PBI’s additional superintendent of police (ASP) Md Akhter Hossain, visited the same areas around 10:00am.

At least three Santal men were killed and 27 people, including nine policemen, injured following a clash with law enforcers and workers of Rangpur Sugar Mill in Gobindaganj upazila on 6 November.

The clash broke out when workers of Rangpur Sugar Mills along with police went to Bagda Farm area to reclaim land of the sugar mill allegedly occupied by the Santal community.

Two cases were filed on behalf of the Santal community with Gobindaganj police station in this connection. Another case was filed by police and the Rangpur Sugar Mill authorities.

Following the incident, three human rights organisations filed three separate writ petitions with the HC.

Source: Prothom Alo