Barbaric Attack on 4 indigenous Santal men of Nababgonj in Dinajpur district
On 9 May 2014, four indigenous workers named SonaramTudu (27), Babulal Soren (48), Som Soren (43) and Bablu Soren (25) resident of Sreerampur village under Nawabgonjupazila of Dinajpur district went to harvest in Boro paddy field of Shahidul Islam. At the evening, these four indigenous Santal men were attacked by a group of land grabber headed by Mohammad Mahabur Rahman and Mohammad Hafijur Rahman while they were loading paddy on a vehicle. The culprits encircled the victims and started beating them up and taken to the Kazipara Bazar. Then the perpetrators tied hands and legs of victims with ropes and hanged them upside down in a tree. Accordingly, the culprits beat the indigenous men inhumanly with iron rods until making them senseless. Then the criminals left the spot immediately. The eye witnessed and local people rescued them from the scene and sent them to the PhulbariUpazila Government Health Complex. Considering critical condition of two victims the duty doctor referred them to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital for better treatment. The victims are still going through medical treatment.
On 14 May 2014, wounded SonaramTudu filed a case against Mahabura Rahman (30) son of Noor Islam, Hafizur Rahman (26), Kamal (37) son of late Kawsar, Nur Islam (50), Rafiqul Islam (32) son of late Ansar Ali, Rezaul Islam (32) son of late Mofar, MdAtul Mia (44) son of Achitullah, Khorshed Ali (24) son of Atul Mia with Nawabganj police station. The case number is 10 under the section of 43/447/323/325/326/307/506/144.
Victim Bablu Soren cannot walk yet. His family are facing very critical situation now, because he was the only earning member from his family. Sometimes his family members cannot arrange their 3 meals in a day. He is taking his treatment from Ayurveda practitioner at home. Another wounded Som Soren’s wife cannot go for work for fear of attack. Now all the victims are staying their home and taking their treatment from Ayurveda practitioner.
After filing the case, the main accused Md. Mahabubur Rahman arrested but after two days he got bail and came out from jail. The other accused are all in bail. Taking this opportunity, the accused are now threatening continuously to the victim’s family and giving them pressure for withdrawal the case.
It is mentionable that, before this incident a close relative of Mahabubur Rahman attempted to rape an indigenous girl from Sreerampur village while she went her school. The locals were able to catch the perpetrators after hearing her shout. Then the locals beat the culprits and handed over to the police. But later the victim’s family was forced to compromise on that case. The indigenous people believe, the perpetrators were encouraged to do the recent attack to take revenge for the previous incident. The victims also alleged that a motive of grabbing their cultivable land is the reason behind the attack. However, the perpetrators spread a rumor that the 4 indigenous workers steal a goat. That’s why they have been beaten.
A tense situation still prevails in the indigenous village Khalippur (Sreerampur) under Nawabgonj upazila in Dinajpur district due to the negligence of the police. The perpetrators could strike again at any time. Therefore the men and women cannot go outside to find work. Indigenous school children also do not feel safe to go their school. The villagers still guards at night by themselves for avoiding fresh attack.
