On 24 January 2014 an
indigenous Santal village named Chirkuta (Habibpur) under Mostafapur union of
Parbotipur upazila in 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, Zahurul Islam (50)
and his brother Ziarul Mandal, both sons of late Mohammad Ali, from Habibpur
under Parbotipur upazila 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
Bengalis joined in favor of Jahurul’s family and the feud turned violent. As a
result, some Santals villagers were forced to shot arrows in order to defend
themselves. Later, Zahurul's son Safiul Islam Sohag (22) was found dead.
Besides, some Santal villagers namely Rakib Tudu, Ruben Tudu and Kablu Tudu
were injured in the clash.
After learning about the incident, hundreds of Bengalis encircled whole
Chirakuta village with locally made weapons including
ramda,
machete,
sharp knife, and dagger. However, they did not attack until police held 19
Santal men. 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, one
Mikhalina Murmu (28), a pregnant indigenous woman, and one Mikhael Tudu were
tortured and survived serious injury. Both of them were later admitted to
Dinajpur sadar hospital.
Mahmudul Hoque (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, a
Santal woman victim named Nilima Hembrom filed a case (case No. 29, dated
28/01/2014) against 76 identified Bengali persons and many unknown persons with
Parbotipur police station in 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 Antineus Tudu, a candidate 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 Joshep Tudu 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 by Shamim 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, Parbotipur upazilla.
On 25 January, an onsite enquiry team of Jatiya Adivasi Parisad (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.
Name of Santal villagers against whom land grabbers filed cases and among them
police held 19 persons from sl. 1 to 19 villagers:
1. Barnabas Tudu, 40,
2. Habil Tudu, 55, both son of Late Manir Tudu
3. Antinues Tudu, 22,
4. Emelius Tudu, 20, both son of Josef Tudu
5. Jibon Hembrom, 22, son of Vadu Hembrom
6. Khalil Tudu (Ripan), 25, son of unknown
7. Lazarus Tudu, 20, both son of Habil Tudu
8. Juwel Tudu, 22,
9. Bifol Mardi, 20, son of Noren Mardi
10. Noren Mardi, 51,
11. Mosoi Tudu, 58, son of late Mohon Tudu
12. Chelsu Hembrom (Rengta), 45,
13. Renatus Hembrom, 40, both son of late Regna Hembrom
14. Rakib Murmu, 32, son of Suren Murmu
15. Romesh Soren, 50, son late Dhanai Soren
16. Alfaskius Tudu, 43,
17. Karlus Tudu, 30, both son of Gonesh Tudu
18. Bachu Barman, 38, son of late Ghutu Barman
19. Hayus Tudu (Thosa), 42, son of Churkai tudu
20. Josef Tudu, 55,
21. Mikhael Tudu, 45, both son of late Raghunath Tudu
22. Aihas Tudu, 45, son of Churkai Tudu
23. Kistu Tudu, 35, son of late Sam Tudu
24. Gudai Tudu, 58, son of late Manir Tudu
25. Srimon Tudu, 35,
26. Noren Mastar, 42,
27. Vadu Hembrom, 50, son of late Chotu Hembrom
28. Benedic Tudu, 25
Please visit for following for lList of loses of indigenous Santal
villagers of Chirakuta village under Parbotipur upazilla in Dinajpur:
www.kapaeeng.org
