AL probe finds instigation from cops, mills authorities

There was instigation from the Rangpur Sugar mills authorities as well as the police behind the incident that happened centering the eviction of Santals in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj upazila on November 6, finds an Awami League probe.

At least three Santal men were killed and many others were injured in clashes between the indigenous people and mills staff along with the police over land dispute that day. Many Santal homes were also burnt down.

On November 13, a probe team from the ruling AL, comprising central leaders BM Mozammel Huq, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Tipu Munshi, Sujit Roy Nandi and Afzal Hossain, visited the spot. It submitted its report to the party a few days later.

The report says the mill authorities showed their weakness in reclaiming their land as they did not inform the district administration about the matter, said one of the team members, quoting the report.

The mill authorities sought assistance of the police instead of the district administration to reclaim their grabbed land, says the report, adding that police are not meant for dealing with such issues.

The mill authorities' intension was to collect a handsome amount of money by leasing out their land to influential quarters, instead of giving them to the local Santals, said the team member, wishing not to be named.

The team, however, did not find any links of local AL lawmaker Abul Kalam Azad to the incident. However, it said the lawmaker should have played a role in tackling the incident but he remained silent throughout the time.

The local union parishad election was a factor in the incident, the AL leader said, quoting the report which also blamed Jamaat men wanting to “achieve political gain” for the incident.

The AL team said it did not have enough time to find out all the reasons behind the incident as the team was at the spot for just a day.

It suggested that the government forms a stronger probe committee to investigate further and rehabilitate the evicted Santals and give them compensation, added the AL leader.