Another indigenous man’s body found in Gaibandha after Monday's clash leaving one killed

Another indigenous man's body has been found in Gaibandha following Sunday's clash which left one dead.

Gaibandha Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 Nov 2016, 09:17 AM
Updated : 8 Nov 2016, 09:30 AM

On Monday, police and workers of a local sugar mill at Gobindaganj Upazila clashed with indigenous protestors over land acquisition when a Shantal man was shot dead.

Local police said the second body was found late on Monday near the 'Rangpur Sugar Mill' at Gobindaganj's Shahebganj area.

Gobindaganj police OC Subrata Kumar said they are yet to identify the victim.

He said the locals reported spotting the body around 10pm on Monday. “There are no signs of violence on the body.”

On Sunday clashes between police, sugarcane workers and indigenous protesters left at least 30 persons injured.

An indigenous man, 35-year-old Shyamal Hembrom, was killed after police opened fire on protesters.  

Rangpur Sugar Mill’s Managing Director Abdul Awwal said the mill’s authorities acquired 1842 acres of land for sugar cane cultivation in 1962.

The indigenous Shantals claim that the acquisition agreement said any land not used for sugarcane cultivation would be returned to them.

They started a movement two years ago, when the sugar mill authorities leased out the land for rice and tobacco farming.

Sugar mill authorities claim that the agreement says if the land is not used for the factory or farming, it must be returned to the government.

In July this year, some Shantal locals started farming on 100 acres of the acquired land. They had also built houses and started living there.

Sunday's clash broke out when workers of the factory went to reap sugarcanes on the land.