Santals keep Rangpur Sugar Mill waiting on offer to help harvest paddy

Authorities of Rangpur Sugar Mill have told the Santals in Gaibandha they would arrange harvesting of paddy on the disputed land in Gobindaganj Upazila following the High Court order.

Upazila administration chief (UNO) Md Abdul Hannan, the mill's Managing Director Adul Awal and Gaibandha police OC Subrata Kumar Sarkar met leaders of the ethnic community on Monday.

They sought a list of the farmers who had cultivated on the land so that it can be delivered to them, but the Santals said they would reap the crop themselves.

The High Court, after hearing a petition filed by three rights organisations on Thursday, ordered authorities to allow the Santals to harvest their paddy or to ensure they get it.

The Santals, who had been evicted from the land, claim they had planted paddy in 100 acres and pulse, mustard and jute in another 800 acres.

UNO Hannan said he went to the evicted Santals, who are now living on the premises of a church in Madarpur village, along with the sugar mill's management and police, and discussed the issue with the ethnic community.

He said Santal leaders Tatu Tudu and Barnabas Tudu told them the farm was the community's joint effort and that they would inform the mill authorities by Tuesday or Wednesday.

"They said some of the paddy is yet to be ready for harvesting and those need irrigation as well," said Hannan, adding they called for facilitating irrigation.

Community leader Barnabas said they will harvest the crop themselves. "The mill authorities wanted to employ people for it."

He said they sought two days to let their decision known on how it would be done.

Gaibandha DC's remarks anger Santals

The ethnic community has reacted sharply to the district administration chief's statement that there was no scope to return the land.

"The deputy commissioner's remark undermines our demand. We have lost lives to get back the land which belonged to our ancestors. It has to be returned," said Rabindra Soren, President of the National Council of Indigenous Community.

In 1962, the factory authorities acquired 1,840 acres of land in 18 villages occupied by Santals and Bengalis for sugar cane farming.

The ethnic community now wants the land back as it had been leased out for farming tobacco and paddy, which they say, is a violation of the deed.

"We want the land back as the sugar mill authorities violated the deed," said Soren.

Deputy Commissioner Md Abdus Samad told a media briefing on Sunday that the government had compensated the Santals when the land was acquired. "Those who have claimed to be staying under the open sky actually have own houses."

He said the district administration made a list of 31 Santal families as landless, which Soren said was 'totally untrue.'  

"Everyone knows that how many Santal families have been evicted from the land."

On Nov 6, the sugar mill management conducted an eviction drive. A clash erupted and the houses of Santals were vandalised and looted.

Police claimed they opened fire to stop the clash, but three Santal men died and many others were injured.

During the clash, houses of Santals were ransacked and looted.

The ethnic community has started a case with Gabindaganj police over the incident.

On Monday, police detained four more persons over the charges, taking the number of the arrested to 16.