Investigative Report of Chontia incident at  Jamalpur District, Bangladesh

Investigation conducted by Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) -Dhaka, Bangladesh on 26th of March,03

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And the instant incident is the outcome of the plan. He also described us that on March 22, 2003 at about 10 in the morning some terrorists numbering 16 equipped with deadly weapons entered into the premises of Shymal while they were trying to construct a thatched room at their plot. The terrorists indiscriminately started to attack the following victims with lathie, dao and sharp knifes: 

1. Upananda Karmakar(24) Admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hoospital.(W.6)
2. Parul Rani Karmakar(45) Admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital(W.10)
3. Chittaranjan Karmakar(35) son of Madhusudhan Karmakar
4. Narayan Chandra Karmakar(40) son of Madhusudhan Karmakar
5. Badal Karmakar(65) son of late Laksmikanta Karmakar
6. Netai Karmakar(40) son of Paresh Chandra Karmakar
7. Niranjan Karmakar(32) son of Monoranjan Karmakar
8. Shankar Karmakar (16) son of Narayan Karmakar
9. Ms.Jaya Rani Karmakar wife of Niranjan Karmakar

Ms.Joya Rani(24) wife of Niaranjan Karmakar told us that two terrorists jumped over her and forcefully took away gold ornaments amounting to taka 24,000/-. Badal Karmakar told us that some terrorists snatched away taka 10,000/- from the suit case at his home and also threatened him to leave the country for India immediately. The complainant of the case Shymal Karmakar told us that before the attack on 22.3.2003 he was sick and his heart was operated from the Hospital. He was requesting the terrorists not to beat him because he was still sick. But the terrorists did not heed to his request and continuously beating him in spite of his old mother's intervention. Another victim Ms.Gandeswari Karmakar(85) wife of late Madhusudhan Karmakar  approached us chanting justice for them and requested us to save them from  the clutches of terrosrists.
We came to know from the victims that the terrorists named in the FIR are constantly threatening them to withdraw the case from police station. One Md. Kamal Hossain (U.P.Member) son of late Md.Hossain Ali of Gopinathpur came to us and complaining that the above victims have been passing their days with great anxiety because they may be attacked at  any time if they refuse to withdraw the case filed against them. He also mentioned names of some of the criminals who are also threatening Md. Kamal Hossain which are as follows : 
1. Halim son of late Erfan Sarkar
2. Lal Chand son of Sultan Sarkar
3. Babla son of Khaleque
4. Miju son of Moinuddin Member.
5. Muslim son of late Erfan Sarkar , all of Gopinathpur. 

Adv. Ghosh HRCBM-Dhaka asking villagers belonging to minority community to describe the atrocities against them to police officer of local police station	Victims are showing blood stain in the cloths to Adv. Ghosh and SI of police.
Mrs. Loya Rani Karmakar (24) describing the terrorist attack on them.	Adv. Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka requesting the Investigating Police officer to take the FIR seriously and to apprehend the terrorists.

I told to Md.Giasuddin, I.O. of the case to note it carefully and to take necessary protection of the victims. The I.O. told me that as there are no adequate vehicles for quick communication it is hardly possible on his part to look into this case every now and then. I also found the victims more insecure and incapable to communicate with the higher authority even in Jamalpur Sadar police station which is also 22 kilometers away from their houses.
I found the I.O. is more negligent, dishonest and insincere to his duties and responsibilities in respect of giving security to the victims. I have also been convinced that during last four days the I.O. could not seize the alamats such as blood stain sharee, gamcha, and hair of the victims. Even he did not take any initiative to arrest the terrorists for reason best known to him. I noticed the I.O. along with his constable on duty taking bribe from the men of opposite party. I cannot understand how the I.O. is expected to perform his duty and endow justice to the minority victims, although he behaved with us more cautiously and intelligently, but the mode of action on his part-doing justice to the victims will be zero. The police officer prefers to make money rather than giving protection to the minority victims.
I also cannot expect good behavior and good attitude from the part of the accused  responsible for the incident towards their neighbor as their ill motives to grab the property of"Karmakar" family is predominant coupled with hatred and animosity.
We came back from Jamalpur by train at 5-30 p.m. and reached Dhaka  at about 11.00 at night.

Note: This investigative report is prepared by Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh.