Land grabbers demolish house in Rajshahi

Hired men of the influential persons are now threatening the two families to leave the rest portion of the building "before being evicted", it is alleged.

Families of Naresh Ram and his brother Gopal Ram, both small businessmen, have been living in the two storied building for more than 70 years, local people said. Naresh and Gopal are sons of late Suriya Ram.

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Sources said "attempt to capture" the land by the influential persons started in early 2002. The two brothers filed a case on June 26, 2002 challenging them.

On May 14 this year, the Senior Assistant Judge's court, Rajshahi issued a temporary injunction on demolition of the building or eviction of the family till delivery of the verdict in the case.

But the court order was violated next day and hired men of the influential persons demolished a portion of their building and beat up members of the two families.

After the demolition, Naresh Ram and Gopal Ram lodged a case on May 19 this year, accusing Nuruzzaman Pitar of Malopara, Quamrul Ahsan Dipu of Ranibazar and Shirajul Islam Lal, Zahangir Alam Haran of Rajarhata areas in Rajshahi city.

When contacted by this correspondent, the accused persons claimed that the land belonged to them. They also showed photocopies of "deeds" on the land.

But Naresh Ram and Gopal Ram claimed that the deeds (which the accused persons showed) are "forged" and a case in this regard was under trial.

When asked about the demolition, Nuruzzaman Pitar and Shirajul Islam Lal said Naresh and Gopal themselves demolished their own building to harass them.

"We offered the families an amount of money to hand over the land to us, considering that they lived there for many years. But they (the families) want more money", Pitar said.

When contacted, Naresh and Gopal said they want to live in their ancestral home, not money.