In fear, they flee ancestral homes

People of the minority community in Jambudwip village of Barishal's Banaripara upazila are passing days amid insecurity as they claim that they are being continuously harassed by an influential group.

Recently, they alleged, some law enforcers have joined hands with the group to intimidate them.

The situation worsened so much that male members of the community have fled the area to avoid police harassment and arrest since a case was filed against them on November 27.

Villagers alleged that the "false" case was lodged only to harass them.

Locals said around 1,500 people belonging to Hindu community have been living in the village for centuries.

The "intimidation and harassment" started over a land-related dispute between a group of minority people and one Farjana Mehajabin Mili Ahmed, wife of retired district Judge Md Fakhruddin.

A case was filed over the issue in 2003 and its trial was ongoing.

Mili with the help of some local goons had been harassing the minorities for a long time, alleged locals.

But it intensified after a court in Barishal delivered a verdict in the case on October 22, which went in favour of the minorities.

On November 27, Mili filed a case with Banaripara Police Station alleging that minority community people attacked on one of her residences in the village, vandalised and looted valuables on November 5.

Around 30 to 35 Hindus were made accused in the case.

"Since filing of the case, police have frequently been visiting the area and intimidating the men. Now, almost all the men have left the area and went into hiding to avoid arrest," said Hemangini Mistry, a resident of the village.

"We are panicked. They (Mili's associates) may attack any time. On Sunday morning, some men came to the village and took away our logs," said Saraswati Mistry (75). "Now is the time to harvest. But the men are not home, they are hiding in fear… there's no one to harvest paddy," she told The Daily Star on Saturday.

Dr Palash Kanti Mistry, who hailed from the village and currently working at Dhaka Ophthalmology Institute, said some local goons, being instructed by Mili's associates (Salam Fakir, Nurul Haque Kalu and Abdul Haque) recently visited the area and threatened the community people with dire consequences.

Amid such a situation, the community people held a press conference at Barishal Reporter's Unity on December10 and demanded support and intervention of law enforcers and administration to end their sufferings.

Contacted, Nurul Haque Kalu denied the allegations of harassing and intimidating Hindus.

Mili could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

She and her husband live in the capital.

Contacted over phone on Sunday afternoon, her husband Md Fakhruddin, however, claimed that the community people attacked one of their houses in the village.

Asked about the land, he said it belonged to them and they have a caretaker looking after it. He said he will appeal to the High Court in this regard.

However, on a visit to the village on Friday, this correspondent could not find any such person. More interestingly, there was no such house which was attacked by the minorities as claimed by Mili in the case.

Fakhruddin claimed that the house was destroyed in the attack.

About intimidating the villagers with local goons, Fakhruddin denied the allegations. He, however, said he has some "paid agents" in the area who look after "his interests".

Contacted, Md Hilaluddin, officer-in-charge of Banaripara Police Station, said, "No one from the community filed any complaint over this matter. Once they file one, police will take necessary legal action."

Hemangini Mistry, however, alleged that they went to the police station but police refused to record a complaint or general diary.

The OC denied the allegation. He said after Mili filed the case they went to the village and arrested two persons, who are out on bail now. "We are investigating the matter," he said.

Contacted, Barishal Superintendent of Police Md Saiful Islam said he was not aware of the matter and would look into it.