Attack on Indigenous "Adhibashi” at Faridpur, Bangladesh

(Continued from previous section….)

An Investigative report from HRCBM

Note: This investigation is conducated by Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM)-Dhaka, Bangladesh on the incident at Kanaipur (Malanga), Faridpur District on  15^th May, 2003

Report written by: Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh.

 ....Gour Chandra Karmakar filed a criminal case in the Court of Magistrate Ist Class,  Faridpur vide Memo. No.82 dated 13.5.2003 against the attackers under section 2(Gha)  for justice. The Magistrate directed the O.C. Kotwali to take necessary action against the attackers under the relevant section of law. The O.C. started Kotwali P.s. case No.32 (5) 2003. But it is strange that no attackers were arrested till our stay at Faridpur town. It came to our notice that some political leaders were trying to negotiate with the leaders of Adhibasis and put pressure on them to compromise the matter amicably.

Picture: Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka taking interviews of the victims at Malanga, Faridpur, Bangladesh in presence of Officer in Charge of Kaniapur Police Station. Victims are describing their ordeal. Picture: Mrs. Karuna Sarkar is showing her completely destroyed home. The religiously motivated mob attacked & destroyed a number of  minority houses at Malanga, Faridpur on 7th May, 2003.

Picture: The completely destroyed Hindu Temple namely "Jagabandhu Mahaprakash Math" at Kanaipur, Faridpur.

The Deputy commissioner allotted 5 bundle of tins to reconstruct their dwelling houses

We also came to know that the D.C. allotted 5 bundle of tins and 500 taka for each family which is negligible and as per statements of victims the allotment of tins and 500 taka will not do and the victims are not at all satisfied with the little money. We observed that the damage caused to each victim is more than that of the money allotted as compensation.

Heavy pressure on Adhibashis for withdrawal of case

Some of the victims are going to tell us that the administration and police are trying to suppress the incident of torture and they always put pressure to reconstruct their houses and images of Goddess immediately. We also came to know that the attackers are all belonging to BNP-Jamat group.

Ms.Mina Rani Sarkar (25) was molested at the time of attack

Mina Rani Sarkar wife of Dinabandhu Sarkar of Malanga, P.s. Kotwali, Faridpur was molested and tortured by some terrorists on 7^th May,2003 during attack on them. She filed a separate case in the Court of Magistrate, Faridpur under section 9 (4) (Kha) and 30 of Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Ain,2000 on 13.05.2003. The Magistrate sent the complain to the O.C Kotwali for taking necessary action. But the O.C. did not start any case. A copy of the complain has been handed over to me for necessary action.

Picture: Victim Mrs. Mina Rani Sarkar (35) describing her ordeal. She was gang rape and brutally tortured.

The allegation of Ms.Mina Rani is that the accused 1) Md. Billat Matabbar son of Monsur Matabbar of West Gangabardi, 2) Zakir Mattabar son of Malek Mattabar 3) Babul Matabbar son of Joynal Matabbar 4) Md. Jalil Matabbar son of Mashem Matabbar of Ibrahimdi , P.s. Kotwali, Dist. Faridpur  on 7^th May, 03 at about 5 p.m. entered into the house of Mina Rani and jumped over her and started to open the wearing  shari without any provocation and forced Mina Rani to do illegal intercourse with them. At the hue and cry of Mina Rani the following witness came for her rescue:

1.      Karuna Sarkar wife of Badsa Sarkar
2.      Anjali Rani Sarkar  wife of Haran Sarkar
3.      Khokan Sheikh son of Nuruddin Sheikh
4.      Gobinda Sarkar son of Trinath Sarkar
5.      Nilima Sarkar wife of Bhagaya Sarkar
6.      Dinabandhu Sarkar.
7.   Dowelers of entire village Malanga, P.s. Kotwali, Faridpur.

We have been given to understand by several witnesses present on the date of investigation that the administration is not satisfied with the cases filed by the members of Hindu Adhibasis and constant threat upon them were going on for withdrawal of cases from the court. We apprehend that ultimately they will not be able to conduct the cases filed in the court as their lives are in great danger and they would be uprooted from the “Adhibasi Palli”.

Motive

The motive of the attackers is clear from the statements of witnesses that they want the Adhibasis to vacate their ancestral landed properties and continuous threat was going on to leave the country for ever.One Ratan Sarkar (50) told me that his 3 sons are now absconding because of unnecessary harassment by the BNP supporters and police. The attackers were planning to file false case against them. I found that most of the inhabitants of “Adhibasi Pally” are simple, law-abiding and religious minded. They mostly live on carrying goods one place to another as daily labor.
I came back from the spot and took some snaps of destruction and images and houses of the victim.

Picture: Victims showing their damaged houses at Kanaipur, Faridpur, Bangladesh. In the wide spread violence against minorities and continued threat on their existence, country's dwindling 10% minority community is on the brink of extinction.

Picture: Mr. Gour Chandra Sarkar, President of "Adhibashi Kalyan Samity" describing their ordeal to Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM and requesting for legal and other assistance from HRCBM.

Picture: The elements of poor victims survival " The cow shed" was not escaped from angry moves hatred towards minorities. Picture shows completely destroyed cowshed.

Picture: Victims of Kanaipur requesting the help of HRCBM to procure justice for them. Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka listening to their ordeal and demand for justice.