Staff Reporter :
A writ petition was jointly filed on Wednesday by three Human Rights Organisations with the High Court (HC) challenging the legality of using firearms by police on Santal people in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district during a clash between them over rights to land.
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Brotee Foundation, filed the writ with the High Court seeking its directives upon the government to ensure safety and security of Santals, and an explanation as to on what ground police used firearms on Santals at Sahebganj of Gaibandha on November 6.
It also sought explanation as to what steps the government has taken to compensate the Santals and arresting perpetrators responsible for the attack on Santals.
The petition also sought HC directives upon the government to ensure security of lives and properties of Santals and their free movement.
Secretary of Home Ministry, Inspector General of Police, Gaibandha Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Gobindaganj police officer-in-charge have been made respondents in the petition.
Advocate Z I Khan Panna, counsel for the petitioners, told reporters that he would move a HC bench on Thursday for holding the hearing on the petition.
On November 6, a clash ensued at Shahebganj cane farm belonging to the Rangpur Sugar Mills located in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha over harvesting sugarcane. The clash left two Santals dead and 25 people, including nine cops, injured.
Law enforces fired rubber bullets and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the confronting groups. The Santal people shot arrows into the police and the Mills workers injuring nine of them.
Santal community in the area has long been demanding ownership to the land, which the government acquired from them to cultivate sugarcane for the mill.
