Hill Voice, 18 August 2025, Dhaka: Kapaeeng Foundation, a national human rights organization for indigenous peoples in Bangladesh, has alleged that the land grabbers attacked on Santal indigenous peoples in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district on 15 August 2025. At least 3 people from Santal community were injured in the attack.
The land legally owned by the father of Shyambala Hembrom (36) and her uncle Nod Hembrom. It is learnt that, Rafiqul Islam illegally occupied the land before by forging the land documents. When Shyambala Hembrom lodged a case in Gaibandha Court (Revenue) against the illegal land acquisition on 28 September 2010, the court found the claiming of Shyambala Hembrom were true and declared the land documents of Rafiqul Islam were fake and baseless on 7 December 2023. Since then, the victim had been cultivating on that land.
However, on the incident day at 3 pm Shyambala Hembrom, Bishanath Soren, Jayanta Hasda and Minti Soren were planting rice on their cultivable land. At that time, a group of 24 land grabbers led by Rafiqul Islam illegally entered into the field and obstructed the victims from planting rice. At this point, when Shyambala Hembrom protested Mesbaul Islam attacked her with stick and Shafiqul, Golap, Rahim Badsha and Suman kicked her indiscriminately. Later, Rahim Badhsa intentionally teared apart the sari and blouse of Shyambala Hembrom to molest her. Seeing that when Sailash Soren, Bishanath Soren and Jayanta Hasda came forward Rafiqul Islam attacked Bishanath Soren with local made chopper in order to kill him while the other perpetrators attacked Jayanta Hasda and Sailash Soren at the same time. As a result, all of the victims were seriously injured. Meanwhile, when local people came forward the perpetrators left the place by threatening the victims to kill if they cultivate on their land in future.
The victims Shyambala Hembrom and Jayanta Hasda were admitted at Gobindaganj Health Complex. However, Bishanath Saren were transferred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as his health conditions were severe. Due to the attack on the head Bishanath Soren received 6 stiches on the back of his head.
The incidents were witnessed by (1) Joas Murmu son of late Suruj Murmu, (2) Filomina Hasda daughter of late Vonda Hasda, (3) Julias Saren son of late Sundar Soren, (4) Mekhail Hasda son of late Khoka Hasda, (5) British Soren son of late Sundar Saren, (6) Makhon Mardi son of late Soban Mardi, (7) Meri Soren son of late Christopher Soren and many others.
The victims were identified as (1) Shyambala Hembrom daughter of Hopna Hembrom from Birat Bharat of Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district, (2) Bishanath Soren son of Shyambala Hembrom, (3) Jayanta Hasda and Sailash Soren.
According to the locals they have identified at least 15 perpetrators including (1) Md. Rafiqul Islam (48), (2) Md. Shafiqul Islam (44), (3) Md. Mesbaul Islam (40) son of Md. Hakim Mandal, (4) Md. Hakim Mandal (65) son of late Azim Uddin, (5) Md. Golap (50) son of late Abdul Gani from Dhanial Chaprapara.
The victim Shyambala Hembrom lodged a complainant with Gobindaganj Police Station through her nephew Mekhail on 17 August 2025. No one has been arrested till the report. On the contrary, the perpetrators are falsely accusing the victims of attacking on them.
