News No. 122/2011, May 19, 2011
THE Bengali settlers yesterday made an attempt to grab 25 acres of land belonging to Jumma villagers in Noapara under Tholipara Mouza No. 252 in Mahalchari Upazila, sources said.
According to sources, a group of 12 settlers from Mahalchari Sadar went to Noapara and began clearing bushes and shrubs to build houses.
However, when the Jumma villagers protested they ran away.
The Jummas later lodged a written complaint with Mahalchari Upazila Nirbarhi (executive) Officer, demanding an end to land grabbing.
The army and settlers had long been eying to grab the said land.
On 1 May, Habib, Second-in Command of Mahalchari zone, called Kala Chand Chowdhury, Headman of Tholipara, to his camp and threatened him with criminal cases if the later allowed the Jummas to build houses on what he termed “disputed” land.