Arson on santal houses ‘BY COPS’

HC orders judicial probe

The High Court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to find out whether the police force were involved in setting fire into the houses of Santals during the eviction drives of Santals in drive at Gobindaganj Upazila of Gaibandha.

It asked the chief judicial magistrate of Gaibandha to trace the people involved in the arson and submit the investigation report before it within 15 days.
The HC also ordered the Deputy Inspector General of (DIG) of Rangpur Range of Police to take necessary steps to investigate the two cases with more importance, which were filed earlier regarding the incident.
The HC directed the DIG of Rangpur to appoint a police officer from Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), whose rang not less than police super, for investigating the cases.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath came up with the orders in response to petition filed by three rights organisations seeking necessary orders to find out the people responsible for the arson.
The petitioners submitted a petition to the High Court annexing the media report alleging that the police have set fire to the houses of Santals.
Different print and electronic media recently published a video record on the incident of setting of fire to the houses of Santals, in which a video of police setting fire to houses of Santals during the eviction drive at Gobindaganj Upazila. The video is now gone viral on the social media.
Earlier, on November 16, three right bodies---- O Salish Kendra (ASK), Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Brotee Foundation-----filed the writ with the High Court seeking its directive upon the government to ensure security for the Santals. 
The writ also sought explanation from the police on under what authority they opened fires on the tribesmen at Sahebganj of Gaibandha on November 6.
It also sought explanation on what steps the government has taken so far to compensate the Santal victims and arrest the perpetrators who were responsible for the attack on the Santals.  

Earlier, on November 17, the HC directed the government to allow Santals to harvest paddy at Gobindaganj in Gaibandha. 
It also asked the local administration to take steps to return to Santals crops harvested on their lands by others, if this has taken place. The administration itself can harvest paddy on lands belonging to Santals, if needed. 
The HC also directed the local administration to ensure security and free movement of the evicted Santals. 
Santals of Sahebganj-Bagda Farm area in Gobindaganj came under police firing on November 6 when they protested eviction from their ancestral land by a group of people allegedly loyal to the local lawmaker. The evictors drove the Santals away, ‘looted their homes, and burned those to the ground’.

Arson on santal houses BY COPS

HC orders judicial probe

The High Court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to find out whether the police force were involved in setting fire into the houses of Santals during the eviction drives of Santals in drive at Gobindaganj Upazila of Gaibandha. It asked the chief judicial magistrate of Gaibandha to trace the people involved in the arson and submit the investigation report before it within 15 days. The HC also ordered the Deputy Inspector General of (DIG) of Rangpur Range of Police to take necessary steps to investigate the two cases with more importance, which were filed earlier regarding the incident. The HC directed the DIG of Rangpur to appoint a police officer from Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), whose rang not less than police super, for investigating the cases. The High Court bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath came up with the orders in response to petition filed by three rights organisations seeking necessary orders to find out the people responsible for the arson. The petitioners submitted a petition to the High Court annexing the media report alleging that the police have set fire to the houses of Santals. Different print and electronic media recently published a video record on the incident of setting of fire to the houses of Santals, in which a video of police setting fire to houses of Santals during the eviction drive at Gobindaganj Upazila. The video is now gone viral on the social media. Earlier, on November 16, three right bodies---- O Salish Kendra (ASK), Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Brotee Foundation-----filed the writ with the High Court seeking its directive upon the government to ensure security for the Santals. The writ also sought explanation from the police on under what authority they opened fires on the tribesmen at Sahebganj of Gaibandha on November 6. It also sought explanation on what stepsthe government has taken so far to compensate the Santal victims and arrest the perpetrators who were responsible for the attack on the Santals. Earlier, on November 17, the HC directed the government to allow Santals to harvest paddy at Gobindaganj in Gaibandha. It also asked the local administration totake steps to return to Santals cropsharvested on their lands by others, if this has taken place. The administration itself can harvest paddy on lands belonging to Santals, if needed. The HC also directed the local administration to ensure security and free movement of the evicted Santals. Santals of Sahebganj-Bagda Farm areain Gobindaganj came under police firingon November 6 when they protestedeviction from their ancestral land by agroup of people allegedly loyal to thelocal lawmaker. The evictors drove the Santals away, looted their homes, and burned those to the ground.