Hired goons fire shots, hurl bombs to evict landless
Alleged bid to grab govt land in Satkhira
Our correspondent, Satkhira
At least 20 people were injured in clashes as a gang of hired goons evicted over 400 landless people from government lands in Bairagirchak and Chingrikhali villages in Kaligonj upazila by firing shots and blasting bombs early morning yesterday. During the swoop, the musclemen damaged houses and looted goods of the landless people, police said. Of the injured, at least six have been admitted to Kaliganj and Sakhipur hospitals in Debhata upazila. The are Mannan, Gafoor, Razzak, Shimul, Bari and Ohab, suffering injury either from bullet or bomb blast, hospital sources said. Quoting the landless people, police said, a gang of miscreants allegedly led by Ashraf Mir, Mani Sardar and Saheb equipped with firearms and bombs attacked the landless people at about 4 am when all were asleep. They blasted 12 bombs to create panic and evicted the landless families who were residing in the government lands for long. The evicted people again came under attack while they were trying to go to their houses at about 9-30 am. This time, the miscreants fired at least 56 shots and hurled more 32 bombs, leaving at least 20 people injured, said Abdul Bari, a leader of the landless people. The evicted people are now under the open sky on embankments. Police rushed there and brought the situation under control. A tense situation is prevailing there, police said. Three of the evicted people-- Fazlur Rahman, Khokon and Rahima Khatuntold this correspondent that the gang had long been trying to evict them to grab the government lands. They demanded arrested and punishment to the hoodlums and urged the local authorities to take steps for their rehabilitation. On contact, Kaligonj thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ansar Ali confirmed the incident and said action will be taken after investigation. Abdur Rashid, a leader of the landless people in Satkhira said they are preparing to file a case.
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