Hill Voice, 26 June 2020, Chapainawabganj:  An indigenous land rights activist has been publicly attacked at Phulkundi intersection in Nachol under Chapainawabganj district. At one point, locals came forward to rescue the victim and the attackers fled on a motorcycle.

On 25 June 2020 Thursday morning, the miscreants severely injured the indigenous leader named Bangapal Sardar by beating him with a wooden club. The victim was Bangapal Sardar, general secretary of the Lahanti Foundation, a non-governmental development organization working with indigenous peoples.

The tribal leader, who was attacked, said the Lahanti Foundation has been working in the greater Rajshahi area to protect the land rights of the tribals and against their oppression.

The indigenous rights activist, who was attacked, said the Lahanti Foundation has been working in the greater Rajshahi area to protect the land rights of the indigenous peoples and against oppression on them.

Indigenous people have been living on khas land in Tampara of Jhilim Union of Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila for more than a hundred years. They have been using a nearby pond for a long time. But a vicious circle wants to evict the indigenous people from there. The attack took place as part of it.

Upon receiving the news, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Nachol Police Station Jahangir Alam went to the spot with a team of police. He said the motorcycle left by the attackers was seized from the spot. The injured Bangapal Sardar has been advised to lodge a written complaint with the police station. Legal action will be taken if any complaint is received.

Bangapal Sardar was accompanied by Bishwanath Mahato, general secretary of the Chapainawabganj district branch of the Adivasi Mukti Morcha. “We are deeply concerned about the safety of the indigenous people in the area,” he said.

‘The administration has been asked more than once for the safety of the residents of Tampara. But as no effective action was taken, the tenants of the fraud ring got the courage to attack. Now we have no choice but to take to the streets’, said Bishwanath Mahato.

Meanwhile, indigenous people staged a protest procession on the Chapainawabganj-Nachol road near Tampara around 2:00 pm on 25 June in the wake of the attack. At the end of the procession, a protest gathering was held.

Source: Janjatirkantho.com