Tortured, 8 Dalit families passing days amid eviction fears
FROM PAGE 5
up, sexually harassed us and snatched valuables including gold ornaments,” said Mukti Rani Hazra, 42, in her complaint that was filed with Nilphamari Sadar Police Station on June 13.
“The attackers have since then kept intimidating us by issuing death threats,” she added.
“A day after the incident, we went to local union parishad chairman. He, however, took the attackers’ side and asked us not to engage in conflict with them,” said Mukti’s husband Kona Hazra, 50,
Contacted, Sonaray UP chairman Nurol Islam Shah refuted the allegation, saying, “I asked the Hari community people to visit my office to settle the issue, but they did not come.”
The victims also accused that the police station had not recorded their initial complaint as a case.
Five days after the incident, Mukti’s son Mohan Roy, 23, filed a case with a Nilphamari court accusing Sohag and four others.
On July 26, the court directed the officer-in-charge (OC) of Nilphamari Sadar Police Sation to investigate the case, which infuriated the accused.
“On June 11, the accused again entered into our house with sharp weapons and threatened to kill us if we don’t withdraw our case,” said Mukti.
“The attackers, meanwhile, also filed a false case to harass us,” said Mohan.
Amid such a situation, Mohan filed a written complaint with local lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor on June 11 seeking his intervention to get relief from the torture and harassment.
The lawmaker then directed the police to register the victims’ complaint.
“Following this, my wife filed the complaint with Nilphamari Sadar Police Station on June 13,” said Kona.
Another victim, Sadhona Rani, 24, said the accused influentials have set up a toilet obstructing the entrance to the Hari neighbourhood.
“My mother died few days ago. We could not carry my mother’s body to the crematorium as the entrance has been blocked. Later, we were compelled to carry our mother’s body through jungle road,” lamented Sadhona.
The accused people have already grabbed a portion the lands of Hari neighbourhood, alleged Nandolal Hazra, 55.
Faimun Farid Sagor, 40, a resident of the village and also president of a local school managing committee, corroborated the same.
Contacted, the prime accused Sohag, however, denied the allegations .
“We always cooperate with the Hari community people so that they can live peacefully here,” he said.
“But some people from Hari community damaged my fish worth of around Tk 1.5 lakh in our pond. So, I have filed a police case,” he added.
Contacted, Nilphamari’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Golam Sobur said he had already directed police officers concerned to take necessary legal actions after investigation.
“We have already submitted chargesheet before the court after conducting investigation,” said Nilphamari Sadar OC Khan Md Shahriar.