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Arson Attacks

Panicked Biharis fear eviction

Shahnaz Parveen
Series of fires broke out simultaneously three nights at several Bihari camps at Mirpur during the last seven days, causing panic and fear of eviction among the Biharis living in the area.
The victims informed that separate fires broke out at MCC camp, football ground camp, madrasacamp. Muslim camp, non-local relief camp
and Wapda building camp situated at Mirpur sections 10 and I I on Monday and Tuesday mornings and also yesterday.
All the incidents took place between at around 3:00am and 4:00am early morning, they informed. Panicked Biharis of more fire incidents are spending the nights on alert, guarding their houses in shifts.
.Although no one was seri-
ously injured, a total of 20 houses and four Benaroshi handloom factories were burnt at MCC camp. At other camps, tin-shed roofs and bamboo fences of several huts were reduced to ashes in the fires.
Tormented Biharis termed the incidents a deliberate act of arson attack and a plot by local influentials to evict them
Victim lalil, a barber ol
MCC camp, said, "My family narrowly escaped the fire as everyone was asleep during that time. At a time several fires broke out at different places. We lost all earthly possessions and living under the open sky in fear."
Sadakat Khan, president of Urdu Speaking Youth Rehabilitation Movement, said, "Local influentials have been trying to evict us for long. We are living under constant fear for a long time, but the last couple of nights were completely sleepless. We are feeling insecure."
Benaroshi handloom and karchupi craftsman is the main livelihood of Biharis living in the area.
Sadakat mentioned that two incidents of fires in 2004 and 2005 that killed four people and destroyed more than 150 houses were also thought to be arson attacks.
In 2002, the High Court issued a rule nisi asking the government not to evict Biharis unless they are provided with alternative arrangements, he said, adding: "Locals have been trying to evict us for long but they cannot do it legally because of the rule nisi."
Meanwhile, two general diaries (GDs) were filed with Pallabi Police Station in this connection.
Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Momin said, “Incidents of simultaneous fires are definitely suspicious. We are not yet confirmed who might have been behind the arson attacks. An investigation is going on."