Investigative Report

Incident of repression at Gorai (Gandharba Para), Mirzapur P.S. within the District Tangail

Part  II

The report prepared and submitted by
Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, President, H.R.C.B.M, Dhaka-Chapter, Bangladesh
Dated: 24th April,2003

Meeting with the Local Reporter of two national dailies

We had good discussion with two local correspondents of daily "Sangbad" and daily "Jugantor". Mr.Shamsul Islam Shahid is the Secretary of Mirzapur Press Club and is the local correspondent of daily Sangbad and Mr.M.Mukharjee is the local correspondent of Jugantor. Both of the correspondents admitted the fact that the terrorists on 19th attacked the Hindu family at Gorai but it would on 18th April, 2003 instead of 19th of April, 03 and they released the news in the national dailies for publication. The police authority is not happy at the news published in the daily "Sangbad" dated 23 April,2003 blaming them that the" Police is not active".

Attackers after getting bail threatening the victims

We also got information from a reliable source and also from the victims that the 4 terrorists got bail out of 6 from the court in connection with this case and after getting bail they are again threatening the victims. I requested the I.O. to be more vigilant on this case and requested him to prepare a forwarding note explaining the situation to the Magistrate that the criminals are still threatening the victims after getting bail from the court. But in case of granting bail by the courts the I.O has got nothing to say. It is the duty of the state to put objection in the court at the time of granting bail. But in case of misuse of privilege of bail by the accused after having been released on bail, the court can cancel the bail of the accused if any reasonable apprehension is found. So it is also the duty of the police officer to inform the court whether the accused has misused the privilege of bail or not.

Cause of Attack on Hindu Para

HRCBM has observed that there are 75 Hind families in Gorai known as Gandharba Para. 180 - 200 eligible Hindu voters generally caste their votes in favor of their suitable candidates. But in the last U.P. election the Awami League Candidate "Mujib Member" could not be successful in U.P election, but Md.Bellal Hossain from BNP has been elected from that constituency. As a result the followers of Awami League started bear grudge upon the Hindu community on suspicion that they could not vote for Mujib as Mujib could not be elected in U.P. election. Besides, Nirode Chandra Sarkar is an employee of local BNP leader and naturally the followers of Mujib on wrong conception took them as supporters of BNP group and made them victims.
I asked the following victims and witnesses present in course of my investigation in presence of S.I. of Police Quamrul Islam in the place of occurrence: 

1. Md. Bellal Hossaon, U.P. Member (Witness)

2. A. Baset Meah (witness)

3. Ruhul Amin (witness)

4. Paritosh Mondal (witness)

5. Ratan Mondal (witness)

6. Nikhil Ch. Mondal (victim)

7. Ganesh Mondal (victim)

8. Sachindra Mondal (victim)

9. Arati Rani Sarkar (victim)

10. Arif son of Lal Meah (witness)

11. Bishu Ch. Mondal (victim)

12. Sawpan Sarkar (victim)

13. Bharat Ch.Biswas (victim)

14. Jaddish Ch.Biswas (victim)

15. Anil Ch. Biswas (victim)

16. Mainuddin (witness)

17. Mannan (witness)

18. Subashi Rani (injured)

19. Golapi Rani Sarkar  (injured victim)

20. Amullaya Ch.Sarkar (injured victim)

21. Kalipada Sarkar    (injured victim)

22. Mridul Kanti Sarkar  (injured victim)

23. Hira Lal Mondal   (injured victim)

24. Upendra Sarkar   (injured victim)

All the above witnesses and victims admitted the occurrence took place on date of 18th April, 2003 and they all demanded punishment for the criminals.  The I.O. of the case Md.Quamrul Islam wanted me to convince that this is not a communal incident, rather it is a family trouble and isolated event. I asked the I.O. of the case if it was a non-communal incident why other houses belonging to Muslim faith could not be attacked? The I.O could not answer it satisfactorily and he always impressed upon me to make me understand that the attackers who committed offence they are by nature "bad element" but not "communal". I asked most of the victims and witnesses who told me that the attackers told them to leave the country speaking in Bengali " Vote Dao Nai Amader - Charaler Baichya - Chaila Jao " meaning "you have not voted us" (a justification used by some ruling party cadres to attack on minorities in other incidents). This type of utterance amply signifies that the terrorist not only bear grudge upon them but also want them to evict from their ancestral landed property. I also took statements with signature or thumb impression of victims and they want justice through HRCBM. They also gave me affidavit to file cases in court or courts for compensation and fair justice.

Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): What could be more painful than loosing a baby before the offspring could even see the light in this harsh world! Brutality against minority women in Bangladesh could not even spare fetus or unborn child in the womb. Victim's sister cries in despair for justice.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): It is that I know what the pain could be! It is passionate pain! Hundreds of pregnant minority women feel that despair that broke their hearts. Justice never been serve to them and perhaps never will be. She lost the sign of her love, the child, the fetus of her own blood and flesh. The picture shows broken heart Sabita Rani Sarkar is under treatment at the local hospital. Sabita is speechless, wounds of her body though yet to cure but the scratches on the heart will never be..!!
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Adv. Ghosh of HRCBM noting the statement of minority families of Gorai (Gandarba Para) at Mirzapur.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Mr. Nirode Sarkar and others wounded during religiously motivated attacks on minorities at Mirzapur are seen here under treatment at the local hospital.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): HRCBM's arrival at the ground zero was the sign of endowing justice although not bestowed yet a hope of trust that associated with HRCBM's name perhaps jolted through the minds of hapless minorities. Victims express their plights to Police and demand protection.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): A National Daily "SAngbad" Published the news of atrocity at Gorai, Mirzapur.

Minorities are not safe being the followers of BNP : 

The minority community of Bangladesh is not safe in spite of being the followers of BNP Jote or any other political affiliations.
HRCBM got full co-operation from the local people, police and local correspondent and returned to Dhaka by Bus at about 10-30 at night.

Note: This investigative report is prepared by HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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