News
No. 80/2012, Sunday, September
09, 2012
ONE Jumma family has been ousted by Bengali settlers
from his homestead in Merung Union under Dighinala Upazila, Khagrachari
district, reigniting tension in the area.
A group of 20 – 30 settlers led by Ashfaq Leader and aided
by police SI Md. Selim evicted Jonadhan Chakma, 60, from his home in the village
of Bhuachari yesterday, Saturday, 8
September.
The settlers locked the house from outside after dragging
Jonadhan and his family members out. They have now taken shelter with his
relatives in Dighinala Sadar.
According to the victim and his neighbours, Jonadhan
Chakma’s father Birosen Chakma had 4 acres of land registered in his name.
After his death, his two sons Bipuleshwar Chakma alias
Khojallya and Jonadhan Chakma inherited the property.
About two months ago, one Sadeq Ali from Merung laid claim
to the said land, prompting the two brothers to complain to the Dighinala
Upazila chairman, Dharmabir Chakma, about it.
He however advised them to seek redress from Merung Union
Council chairman, Mossaraf, and they did so accordingly.
Mossaraf tried to settle the dispute by holding a series of
arbitration meetings, where Sadeq Ali claimed that he had purchased the land
from one Indra Kumar Chakma but failed to produce any supporting documents or
evidence.
He even failed to prove the existence of anybody in the
name of Indra Kumar Chakam in the locality.
Thus failure of Sadeq Ali to produce evidence in support of
his claim led the Chairman to direct him not to create further trouble about
the said land.
However defying the arbitration meeting’s decision Sadeq
Ali filed a suit in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate of Khagrachari
against Jonadhan Chakma, claiming ownership of his land.
The court yesterday, 8 September, issued a notice directing
the Dighinala police station to investigate the matter.
Acting on this notice, SI Selim made a swift visit to
Jonadhan Chakma, taking Sadeq Mian, Ashfaq Leader and other settlers along with
him.
In his presence, the settlers forced Jonadhan Chakma and
his family members out of the house, turned it upside down and then locked it
from outside.
Jonadhan said, ‘The land in question is registered in my
father’s name in 1966. Since his death, I had been living there with my family.
My elder brother Bipuleshwar Chakma lives elsewhere. I have grown teak,
jackfruit, litchi and many other fruit trees in this land.’
He said Sadeq Ali had destroyed his house once about two
months ago while he was away in Rangamati for medical treatment.
“When I was back I complained to our UP chairman about it,
but he failed to settle the issue. However he asked me to live on in my land.
Then I build a small hut there.’ he said.
The United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) in a statement
condemned the unlawful ouster of Jonadhan Chakma from his home and demanded
that he be allowed to go back to his land.
‘Otherwise we will paralyze the whole of Dighinala by
enforcing tougher programmes.’ UPDF’s Khagrachari district unit organizer
Pradeep Chakma warned.
He said a section of the settlers have been trying to grab
Jumma people’s lands with forged documents and other dishonest means.
UPDF and M. N. Larma faction of the PCJSS also held
separate protest marches in Dighinala today, holding the local administration
responsible for the ordeal Jonadhan’s family had to undergo.
By any standard, the ouster of Jonadhan Chakma from his
home in this manner is unlawful, unconstitutional and inhuman, a legal expert
told chtnews.com.
‘He cannot be forced out of his home and his land without a
court order, and no court has the right to issue such an order without hearing
both the parties to the dispute,’ he added.
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