Pic: Collected.

It has been alleged that, an Indigenous Santal family members were beaten and their house was torched by the land grabbers over a land dispute at Rajbirat village of Gobindaganj Upazila under Gaibandha District on 3 January 2025.

It is learnt that, Md. Rafiqul Islam Master, a local Union Council Chairman with his goons already occupied 200 bighas land of Santal People and a case in relation to this is under trial in the court.   On the incident day, the perpetrators illegally entered into the boundary of the house of Julias Soren son of late Sundor Soren from Birat Barattra area. Then Md. Mezbahul Islam, Md. A Hakim Mandal, Md. Najrul Islam, Md. Rahim Badsha, Md. Salzar Rahman started attacking and beating Julias Soren by the order of Md. Rafiqul Islam Master. Afterwards, Filomina Hasda came forward to save Julias Soren then the culprits also attacked on Filomina Hasda. At this, Rafiqul Islam Master brought a bamboo stick to beat them and slapped Filomina Hasda in the ear when she tried to grab the stick. As a result, Filomina Hasda felt to the ground and got injured badly. Even then the perpetrators started beating Filomina Hasda even after she got fainted. Later, British Soren and Nayani Murmu came forward to save them but Md. Salzar Rahman tried to physically assaulted Nayani Murmu. On the other hand, British Soren was forced to ran away as other perpetrators were coming to attack on him again. Finally, the perpetrators left the place after threatening the victim and his family to kill and evict them from their land.

Later, Filomina Hasda was admitted at Gainbandha Upazila Health Complex. However, when her health was deteriorated she was transferred to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical Hospital.

Later on that night, the 6 identified and 20-25 unidentified perpetrators came to the victim house at around 11pm. At one point, Md. A Hakim Mandal and Md. Najrul Islam stole 50,000 taka and Md. Rahim Badsha stole a laptop of Julias Soren worth of 20000 taka and destroyed his household items worth of 50,000 taka. Besides that, Md. Rafiqul Islam Master and Md. Mezbahul Islam set fire on the victim house. However, (1) Shyambala Hembrom wife of German Soren, (2) Lima Murmu wife of Soiles Hasda, (3) Minti Mardi wife of Rup Soren, (4) Shyamoli Tudu wife of Niren Hasda, (5) Arti mardi wife of Nikel Soren, (6) Joyas Murmu son of late Suruj Murmu from Biratvaratta area of Gobindaganj District tried to put out the fire but failed. At this, Julias Soren called his brother British Soren to inform the matter to the fire service and British Soren called at 999 for help. Later, a team of Gobindaganj Fire Service came and put out the fire.

The victims are known as (1) Filomina Hasda (55), mother of Julias Soren (2) Julias Soren (35), son of Filomina Hasda (3) British Soren, cousin of Julias Soren and (4) Nayani Murmu (30), cousin of Julias Soren. The perpetrators are known as (1) Md. Rafiqul Islam Master (45), Chairman of 4no. Rajahar Union Parishad and son of Md. A Hakim Mandal, (2) Md. Mezbahul Islam (40), son of Md. A Hakim Mandal, (3) Md. A Hakim Mandal (70) from Chaprapara area, (4) Md. Najrul Islam (45) son of late Ah Gani Mandal from Birat Brattara area, (5) Md. Rahim Badsha (45) son of late Abdul Khalek from Birat Barattara area, (6) Md. Salzar Rahman (32) from Paril area of Gobindaganj Uapzila and (7) 20-25 unknown perpetrators.

Protest:
The Santal Indigenous Peoples organized a rally in Rajabirat area on Saturday afternoon to protest the incident of beating Santal women and setting fire to their house Earlier, a procession circumambulated the Rajabirat area. Sahebganj Bagda-Farm Land Rescue Committee, Adivasi-Bengali Solidarity Parishad, Gaibandha Social Struggle Parishad jointly held this program.  

Police case: 

Bulbul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Gobindaganj Police Station, informed that Filimona’s son Julius Soren (35) filed a case against Md. Rafiqul Islam Master, Md. Mezbahul Islam, Md. A Hakim Mandal, Md. Najrul Islam, Md. Rahim Badsha, Md. Salzar Rahman and 20-25 unknown perpetrators with Gobindaganj Police Station on 4 January 2025.

No one has been arrested till the writing of the report.

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