Investigative Report

Incident of repression at Gorai (Gandharba Para), Mirzapur P.S. within the District Tangail

The report prepared and submitted by
Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, President, H.R.C.B.M, Dhaka-Chapter, Bangladesh
Dated: 24th April,2003

On receipt of information published in the daily " Sangbad " dated 23rd April, 2003, Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), Dhaka chapter representatives rushed to Mirzapur to hear the incident of repression on Hindu families and to give them legal shelter at Gorai committed by some terrorists on 18th April, 2003 at about 8-30 p.m.
HRCBM volunteer on 24th April, 2003 at about 8 a.m. started for Mirzapur 74 kilometers from Dhaka by Bus and reached Mirzapur at about 11 a.m. We first went to Mirzapur Kumudini Hospital to know whether the victims Nirod Chandra Sarkar, Subashi Bala Sarkar and Sabita Rani Sarkar were admitted into the Hospital or not. I found Nirod and his daughter Sabita Rani in the Hospital in Bed No.23 and F.S.A No.10. Ms.Subashi Bala was discharged from Hospital and she is in her house. Victim Kalipada Sarkar (32) and Amulla Sarkar (28) were registered as patient in the Hospital but they were given certificate and discharged, as their injury was not so fatal.
We collected medical reports of the victims from the Hospital and asked the attending doctors and nurses with regard to their present physical condition. Attending nurses told me that Nirod and his daughter Sabita Rani might be discharged.  I also came to know from the victim Sabita that she was attacked by terrorists on 18th April, 03 at her father's house and she sustained injuries at her bally, resulting which abortion took place.

.Lodging complain against criminals in Mirzapur Police Station

We came to know that Liton Chandra Sarkar son of Nerod Chanda Sarkar lodged F.I.R. in Mirzapur police station bearing Case No.13 dated 18.4.2003 under section 143/447/448/323/324/307/379/506 of Bangladesh Penal code against 1) Maznu son of Assa Meah 2) Mostaq son of Kashem, both of Gorai Joyer Para, P.S. Mirzapur,Dist.Tangail at about 7-30 p.m. pushed Liton from his bi-cycle down while he was coming from the market with some clothes. Both the attackers started to give blow with the fists on his person and he sustained injuries and thereafter-on hue and cry his mother, father and cousin appeared for his rescue but they had also been attacked indiscriminately and having been attacked the victims returned back to their respective houses for safety. But after one hour the following terrorists appeared with two other terrorists in the village Gandharba Para with deadly weapons:

1. Kashem son of Aziz Sikdar

2. Masum son of Md.Soharab Khan

3. Munir son of not known

4. Sadeque son of Mostaq  of Gorai Khamar Para

5. 6/7 unknown other terrorists

The above terrorists with dao, kirish and deadly weapons broke open the door of Nirode Chandra Sarkar and started to torture mercilessly and indiscriminately. Manja Meah with his sharp dao in hand slashed Ms.Subashi Bala Sarkar (35) and she sustained multiple injuries at her right hand. Upendra Sarkar (40) one of the neighbors approached for their safety and the terrorist Maznu slashed on his head causing severe head injury. The terrorists Mostaq, Masud Manir and Sadeque armed with iron rod, lathi and dao jumped over the victims 1) Golapi Rani Sarkar (35) wife of Shymal Ch.Sarkar 2) Amullaya Chandra Sarkar (25) son of Lal Mohan Sarkar 3) Kalipada Sarkar (36) son of Lal Mohan Sarkar 4) Mridul Kanti Sarkar(12) son of Sawpan Kumar Sarkar 5) Hira Lal Mondal (70) son of late Kanai Lal Mondal 6) Sandha Rani Sarkar 7) Nani Bala Sarkar 8) Bipul Ch.Sarkar (6) son of Sawpan Sarkar 9) Sabita Rani Sarkar. Sabita Rani was kicked by foot and as she is pregnant and she received injury on her belly. The terrorists terrorized the area and ordered the Hindu community to leave the country, as they did not vote for "Mujib Member "an Awami League candidate in the U.P. election During the period of terrorism one accused Kashem snatched away a golden chain amounting to Taka 6,000/-. The terrorists entered into the neighboring house of Sudhir Chandra Sarkar, broken the door and took away some amount of money and tried to rape Lipa Sarkar (14). The terrorists also demanded more money and warned them to leave the country within short time. But this fact was not incorporated in the F.I.R. lodged by Liton as the F.I.R. was lodged with full anxiety and with injured body in the police station.

Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Advocate Ghosh of HRCBM accompanying by Police officer taking the interviews of the victims at Gorai.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Adv. Rabindra ghosh of HRCBM is examining the wounds of Upendra Sarkarat Gorai who was among the injured of recent attacks on minorities at the village.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Adv. ghosh of HRCBM is examining the wounds of  Nirode Sarkar in presence of Police officer Md. Qamrul Islam of Mirzapur P.S. at the place of occurrence .	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Mr. Nirode Sarkar and others wounded during religiously motivated attacks on minorities at Mirzapur are seen here under treatment at the local hospital.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): HRCBM's arrival at the ground zero was the sign of endowing justice although not bestowed yet a hope of trust that associated with HRCBM's name perhaps jolted through the minds of hapless minorities, villagers gathered to welcome. Adv. Ghosh of HRCBM seen in the picture is explaining the plights of minorities to the police officer and requesting protection.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Victims showing up their body injuries inflicted from the religiously motivated attacks on minorities at Gorai, Mirzapur.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Injured women turns to HRCBM for justice. Picture shows seriously injured victim Mrs. Shubashi Bala Sarkar (35) stood on her foot assisted by her son and other women to impart HRCBM about the ordeal. Minority women are subject brutal atrocities by religiously motivated attackers in Bangladesh, even after repeated appeals, government yet to act on implementing its own Child and Women protection law. It seems to us that government is not properly implementing women and child protection act when it comes to minority women and children.	Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Victim of brutal atrocity Ms. Glapi Rani Sarkar signing up the paper authorizing HRCBM to take necessary legal action to endow justice on them. It is to be noted that HRCBM handed over a list of 1500 women who were subject to inhumane brutality to the President of Bangladesh last year. Government has yet to act on it. The domestic law namely "women and child protect act" could have been implemented in this case but apparently not. Victims and minorities in general are complaining of prejudice. HRCBM has observed that the law is not implemented for minority women and children.

Visit to Mirzapur Police Station

We along with injured victim Nerode Sarkar went to Mirzapur police station to know the present situation and the outcome of the criminal case filed by them due to attack on them on 18th of April, 2003. The Officer-in-Charge, S.M. Abdul Gani was sick at his official residence nearer to police station and I informed him about my visit and he requested me to talk to him at his official residence. Accordingly I along with Md.Quamrul Islam, I.O. of the case visited him in his residence.
I, Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM requested O.C. to help me according necessary assistance for the victims at Gorai and he instantly agreed to help me accompanying me the S.I. of Police Md.Quamrul Islam. We accordingly reached the place of occurrence at Gorai at about 3 p.m. 5 kilometers away from Mirzapur police station and started to investigate the cause of attack on the Hindus in a particular area in presence of Md.Quamrul Islam. The victims could not expect us in their midst with the police officer and in my conception I could realize that they got back their courage and expectation that they would get justice.. ..more.......

Note: This investigative report is prepared by HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh.

powered by wellspent.org