Attack on Indigenous "Adhibashi” at Faridpur, Bangladesh

 
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.

I, Advocate Rabindra Ghosh on behalf of HRCBM, Dhaka visited Kanaipur (Malanga) Faridpur Sadar on 15^th and 16^th of May, 03 10 kilometers from Faridpur town where a good number of Hindu Adhibashis residing at “Adhibashi Pally” have been attacked by some terrorists and as a result 26 dwelling houses including family “Goddess Jagatbandhu Mahaprakash Math” and Manasha Images in a Manasha Mandir were destroyed and some women have been molested on 7^th May,03. 

Picture: Mrs. Kalpana Rani Sarkar at Malanga, Kanaipu of Faridpur, Bangladesh showing signs of the attack on their house and on them dated 7th May, 2003. Picture: Indigenous Hindu "Adhibashi" women are showing damaged houses top describe their ordeal at Malanga, Kanaipu of Faridpur, Bangladesh. The religiously motivated mob attacked the  minority houses on 7th May, 2003.

Picture: During 7th May, 2003 attack on Indigenous " Hindu Adhibashi" , miscreants has ransacked their place of worship and destroyed the idol of "Goddess Manasha".

Background Information
 I ,on the way to Manikganj from Bagerhat went to the Police station Faridpur Sadar at about 4-45 p.m. and found that  C.A. Halim, Officer-in-Charge of Faridpur Sadar (Kotwali)  was not available. I requested other police officers to help investigating the incident of torture upon the Adhibashis. After a while the O.C. came and he arranged to accompany two police Sub-Inspectors for investigtion. We accordingly went to the spot and in presence of two Police officers the victims were brought before us for recording statements.

The incident took place on 7^th May,03 at about 3 p.m. as per statements of complainant – Gour Chandra Karmakar son of late Mukunda Chandra Karmakar of Kanaipur. He told us that the attackers namely 1) Dulal Matabbar, 2) Md. Billal Matabbar, 3) Selim Matabbar, 4) Zia Matabbar, all sons of Monsur Tatabbar, 5) Murad Matabbar son of Khaleque Matabbar, 6) Asmat Matabbar son of Lokman Matabbar, 7) Mitu Sheikh son of Jabbar Sheik, 8) azam Sheikh son of not known, all of West Gangabardi, 9) Abu Mollah son of Yazuddin Mollah, 10) Rana Mollah son of Abu Mollah of Malanga, 11) Babul Matabbar son of Joynal Matabbar of Mrigi, all of P.S. Kotwali, Dist. Faridpur armed with deadly weapons such as  Pistol, Revolver, Ramdao, Chendao, Iron Rod, Lathi etc. called  Gour Chandra Karmakar from Puja Mondap while  performing Manasha Puja and demanded Taka 10,000/- from the complainant. Th attackers told them “ If you want to celebrate Puja, you will have to pay us money as subscription.” The complainant did not agree with their proposal and as a result the attacker No.1 Dulal Matabbar instigated other attackers and they started to kick and push him indiscriminately and some witnesses came forward for his rescue, but the unruly attackers damaged 26 dwelling houses, 2 shops, Jagatbandhu Mandir, Manasha Mandir and looted valuables, TV, Electronic goods, cash money, gold amounting to Taka 3,00,000/-.  The attackers also damaged cowsheds of the victims.... more.....