90 charged with attack on Santal village in Gaibandha
The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) on Sunday submitted a charge-sheet against 90 people for killing three Santal people, looting their valuables and unleashing torture on them at their Bagda village in Gobindaganj upazila on November 6, 2016.
General manager (finance) of Rangpur Sugar Mills Nazmul Huda, Union Parishad chairman Shakil Ahmed Bulbul, mills Labour Union general secretary Mustafizur Rahman Dulal, UP member Shah Alam were among those charge-sheeted in the case.
PBI Gaibandha Additional Superintendent of Police Abdul Hye Sarker submitted the charge-sheet to Gobindaganj Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court.
Some charge-sheeted accused are already behind bars while some others have secured bail, police officials said.
According to the case statement, the Rangpur Sugar Mills authorities in connivance with police, local UP chairman, member and hired goons went to evict Santal people from Bagda farm village on November 6, 2016, leading to a violent clash.
At one stage, local people, reportedly led by Sugar Mill GM Nazmul Huda and UP chairman Shakil Akand Bulbul, torched houses and fired shots on Santals, leaving three of them dead.
Nine cops were also injured by arrows thrown by Santal people during the clash.
On November 21, 2016, Swapan Murmu and Thomas Hembrom, members of the community, filed a case with Gobindaganj Police Station in connection with the attack.
Later, the court ordered PBI to investigate the incident.
