Kapaeeng Foundation

On 24 January 2014 an indigenous Santal village named Chirkuta (Habibpur) under Mostafapurunion of Parbotipurupazilain Dinajpur district went under attack allegedly by a group of Bengali land grabbers. The land grabbers looted and vandalized all the houses and belongings of indigenous peoples, leaving all indigenous families literally destitute.

It is learnt that on the day of incident at around 7.30 am, ZahurulIslam(50) and his brother ZiarulMandal,both sons of late Mohammad Ali, from Habibpur under Parbotipurupazila in Dinjapur district went to work on 19 acres land of Joseph Tudu and his family. When Joseph Tudu and his family members came to know about the incident, they tried to stop alleged land grabbers and some altercation took place between two groups. At some point around a dozen of Bengalisjoined in favor of Jahurul’s family and the feud turned violent. As a result,someSantals villagers were forced to shot arrows in order to defend themselves. Later,Zahurul’s son SafiulIslam Sohag (22)was found dead. Besides, some Santal villagers namelyRakibTudu, Ruben Tudu and KabluTuduwere injured in the clash.

After learning about the incident, hundreds ofBengalis encircled wholeChirakuta village with locally made weapons includingramda, machete, sharp knife, and dagger. However, they did not attack until police held 19 Santalmen.After police took those people, the assailants broke over the Santal houses — they set fire on at least 25 houses and vandalized 65 houses of Santal villagers and looted all the belongings of indigenous villagers including food, kitchen utensils, furniture, cattle and tube wells, leaving each and every indigenous family literally destitute.The attackers also set fire on a primary school run by Caritas-Bangladesh.Beside, in the attack, oneMikhalinaMurmu (28), a pregnant indigenous woman, and one MikhaelTudu were tortured and survived serious injury. Both of them werelater admitted to Dinajpursadar hospital.

MahmudulHoque (29), the uncle of Saiful Islam Sohag, filed a case (case No. 22, dated 24/01/14) with Parbotipur police station against indigenous Santals accusing named 28 and 14 unanimous indigenous persons.On the other hand, aSantal woman victim named NilimaHembrom filed a case (case No. 29, dated 28/01/2014) against 76 identified Bengali persons and many unknown persons with Parbotipurpolice stationin connection with this incident.

Police has not arrested any of the attackers as of yet, although all the 19 indigenous persons who were held by the police earlier have remained under the custody of the police except for AntineusTudu, acandidate of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination, whose exam is scheduled to be held from 2nd February 2015. On 29 January, the court granted bail to until the SSC examination period.

It is mentionable that Zahurul Islam has been claiming his ownership over the land of Joseph for last few years. In this situation several talks and arbitrations took place between JoshepTudu and Zahurul Islam. The local UP chairman, police and other villagers also joined the talks. Every time Joseph Tudu showed land documents whereas Zahurul Islam failed to show any.

On 27 January, a three-member probe committee was formed byShamim Al Razi, the Deputy Commissioner of Dinajpur district to investigate the incident. The probe committee is supposed to submit their probe report within 15 days since the formation of the committee. The members of this team are Touhidul Islam, Additional District Magistrate,Dinajpur; Sushanta Sarkar, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sadar circle), Dinajpur; and Jahangir Alam, Assistant Commissioner of Land, Parbotipurupazilla.

On 25 January, an onsite enquiry team of JatiyaAdivasiParisad (JAP) visited Chirakuta village. The team found obvious signs of demolition of indigenous houses including remnants of clay-made walls, ashes, charcoal and other debris from burning. They also found that all the indigenous men fled the village and all the young girls were sent to their relatives’ elsewhere allegedly due to the fear of police arrest and further attack by the Bengalis.

The investigation team of JAP found the evidence that the case of land grabbing was turned into a communal attack. They also claimed that although the clash was between two families, other Bengali people who were incited to make this brutal attack on indigenous Santals.

Different citizen groups and indigenous peoples’ organizations condemned the brutal attack on indigenous Santals of Chirakuta and demanded to bring all the perpetrators to justice. Indigenous peoples organizations including Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, JAP, Kapaeeng Foundation, and Bangladesh Indigenous Students Action Forum staged demonstrations to protest against the attack.

Police held following 19 indigenous Santal villagers:

1. Barnabas Tudu, 40,
2. HabilTudu, 55, both son of Late ManirTudu
3. AntinuesTudu, 22,
4. EmeliusTudu, 20, both son of Josef Tudu
5. JibonHembrom, 22, son of VaduHembrom
6. Khalil Tudu (Ripan), 25, son of unknown
7. Lazarus Tudu, 20, both son of HabilTudu
8. JuwelTudu, 22,
9. Bifol Mardi,20, son of Noren Mardi
10. Noren Mardi, 51,
11. MosoiTudu, 58, son of late MohonTudu
12. ChelsuHembrom (Rengta), 45,
13. RenatusHembrom, 40, both son of late Regna Hembrom
14. RakibMurmu, 32, son of SurenMurmu
15. Romesh Soren, 50, son late Dhanai Soren
16. AlfaskiusTudu, 43,
17. KarlusTudu, 30, both son of GoneshTudu
18. Bachu Barman, 38, son of late Ghutu Barman
19. HayusTudu (Thosa), 42, son of Churkaitudu
20. Josef Tudu, 55,
21. MikhaelTudu, 45, both son of late RaghunathTudu
22. AihasTudu, 45, son of ChurkaiTudu
23. KistuTudu, 35, son of late Sam Tudu
24. GudaiTudu, 58, son of late ManirTudu
25. SrimonTudu, 35,
26. NorenMastar, 42,
27. VaduHembrom, 50, son of late ChotuHembrom
28. BenedicTudu, 25

List of loses of indigenous Santal villagers ofChirakutavillage under Parbotipurupazilla in Dinajpur