CHANDPUR. Dec 11: With the beginning of harvesting new aman crops, the small farmers of different char areas of Chandpur district are passing their days and nights in agonising tension. Char" means accreded land in and around the river Meghna and Padma. These char land have emerged in the rivers where poor farmers cultivate crops. These land are caHed "khash land" some important char lands are Bglur Char. Raj-Rasherwar Char. Ibrahimpur. Hanarchar. Himchar, Char Bhalravl, Nilkamal. Char Kashem. Borow Char.

The farmers of char land are apprehending attack from lathials. The land lords in char area hire these professional lathials to snatch away the harvest paddy from the farmers.

It is reported that lathials all over the char land are preparing their country made weapons such as bamboo sticks, mounted with spearheads to swoop on the fanners. Preparation of these group of miscreants are already observed. They also use firearms in their operation.

The terror unleashed on

the poor farmers by the lathials are age old common feature in the char areas' for a long time.

Looting of harvested crop, arson, torture and killing of local people are continuing for a long time. But this is happening in the area for a long time. Such violence in the char areas has claimed several lives leaving hundreds injured every year. The lathials looted crops worth crores of taka and set fire to dwellings houses belonging to the poor peasants.

The clashes and violence

over the harvested crops occur mainly due to disputes over the ownership, of newly ac creted laJid. Their claims are often challenged by rival landlords having forged documents. Absence of proper bor der demarcation of district in the char areas is one of the •causes of the dispute

A large number of cases were filed by rival claimants of the chars remain pending in the courts for years These un settled litigation also con ■ tribute to the violence in the char areas.