The mass grave of four lower caste Hindus, who were killed during the country's Liberation War in 1971 in Kotchandpur upazila, is on the verge of disappearing as the authorities concerned are yet to take any step to preserve it.

Rajon Das, 65, son of one of the martyrs Bhadu Das, who witnessed the horrible killing, said at that time, ten lower caste Hindu families used to live at Daspara village.

His father was among the three to four guardians of the village who used to protest any irregularities or unethical acts.

The four always protested the Pakistani occupation forces and helped the freedom fighters, which aggrieved the Pakistani army and their local collaborators, Rajon said.

Hearing the matter from their local collaborators, Pakistani army attacked the village on May 14, 1971.

They picked up Anna Das, Kiron Das and Anga Das and took them to Bhadu's house and shot them dead there and buried them beside the house, said Rajon, who ran inside a nearby bush to escape from their rage.

People from Das community still could not forget the tragic death of the four elderly guardians of the village. 

While visiting the area on Saturday, this correspondent saw that the place, where the four martyrs were buried, has been filled with earth.

In 2007, owner of the land Gopal Das sold the property to one Abdul Haque of Fulbari village.

Due to change in ownership of the land, the mass grave is facing threat of extinction as most of the families of the village are poverty stricken.

Local people said if the authorities concerned construct a memorial on the spot, their next generation will be aware of the history of Liberation War.

Freedom fighter Tajul Islam, former commander of Kotchandpur Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad, said he heard about the mass grave and is trying to take steps to protect it.