Four members including the ring leader of land grabbers’ syndicate locally known as ‘Bojrang group’ of Dakkhin Bahagli village in Kishoreganj upazila under the district landed in jail on Thursday, after a Nilphamari court rejected their bail prayer in a criminal case filed by a Hindu woman.
The four are Mizanur Rahman Dulal, leader of ‘Bojrang group’, Zakir Hossain, manager of alleged non-Bengali land grabber Hazi Noor Islam, Nazmul Hossain and Sachin.
“The four accused along with others set fire to three houses belonging to Basudev Roy, Dhirendranath Roy and Narayan Chandra Roy on the night of 19 May this year in order to create panic among Hindu community of the village,” Babita Rani said in the case filed with Kishoreganj police station on May 20.
On Thursday, the complainant placed at the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Shahadat Hossain Pramanik a copy of The Daily Star report titled, ‘Hindus in panic as land grabbers reappear’ that was published on November 15′.
The court ordered sending the four accused to jail.
Earlier, investigation officer of the case, SI Moshiur Rahman of Kishoreganj police station submitted charge sheet against the accused before the court.
The Daily Star report said land grabbers’ syndicate with a view to grabbing Hindus’ land at Dakkhin Bahagli village are making forged documents or filing false cases or assaulting them to compel them to sell land for low prices.
Several victims said the situation arose as non-Bengali merchant Hazi Noor Islam of neighbouring Saidpur municipality chose to purchase land in the Hindu majority village from middle of 2012, in name of setting up a jute mill.
As most landowners showed reluctance to sell land, Hazi Noor early this year contacted with Mizanur Rahman Dulal, alleged leader of a group locally known as ‘Bojrang group’ to manage land.
This group allegedly works as ‘hired hoodlums’ for rich parties intending to purchase land in the area.
