Moulvibazar Correspondent :
It has been alleged that miscreants cut down about 400 betel trees in a panjum of Banakhala Khasi Punji in South Shahbazpur Union of Barlekha upazila in Moulvibazar. This has caused a loss of Tk 6-7 lakh to the owner of panjum. Fresmin War, owner of the damaged panjun, filed a general diary (GD) with the police on Monday afternoon. According to the owner of the damaged panjum and GD sources, Fresmin War, a resident of Banakhala Khasi Punji (Khasi Palli), was in Kulaura of the district on Friday on the occasion of his sister’s wedding. On this occasion, anonymous miscreants cut down the Panjum tree. He came to the punji on Saturday afternoon after getting news through a neighbor. On Sunday, he went to panjum and saw that about 400 betel trees had been cut down from one of his panjum. Besides, the miscreants also stole drinks from panjum. Then he pulls the cut leaves with the help of the workers and piles them in one place. He has lost about 7 lakh taka by cutting down the betel tree. Fresmin War, owner of the damaged Panjum, said: I got the news on Saturday through the people of the punji. Then I went to panjum on Sunday and saw the cutting of betel tree. I have lost about six-seven lakh taka. We are innocent people. I make a living by cultivating betel. It all ends when a vine is cut down. In this condition 400 trees have been cut down.’ Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Barlekha Police Station Jahangir Hossain Sardar said on his mobile phone on Monday afternoon, ‘Who or what cut down the panjum betel tree on Friday. The owner of panjum has lodged a GD with the police in this regard. Police investigation is underway. Necessary action will be taken against those responsible subject to investigation.
