None Punished for Alfred Soren Murder in 9 Years

Sense of insecurity still haunts Bhimpur indigenous families

18 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

Adivasi Chhatra Parishad forms a human chain at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point in Rajshahi city yesterday demanding punishment to the killers of indigenous leader Alfred Soren. Soren was murdered on August 18, 2000. PHOTO: BANGLAR CHOKH

Indigenous communities and different NGOs yesterday observed ninth death anniversary of indigenous leader Alfred Soren who was killed in a land dispute on August 18, 2000. They demanded security of the indigenous people and land rights through formation of a separate land commission for them. A deep sense of insecurity still haunts the indigenous families at Bhimpur village in Naogaon where Soren was murdered. Nearly 200 musclemen of local landlords killed Soren with a blueprint to evict evict 22 indigenous families from the village. Soren's family members claimed at least seven families including those of Shreemonto Hembrom, Komol Soren and Anil Soren have left the village in the face of 'death threats' by local landlords. Soren's wife Jyotsna Soren now lives in Dinajpur while her daughter Jhorna studies at a missionary school in Joypurhat. Alfred Soren's brother Komol Soren said he fled to Tanore in Rajshahi following death threats by his brother's killers. The threats were issued immediately after Bhimpur police outpost was withdrawn in April, 2003, under pressure, he said. Jatiya Adibashi Parishad and different other NGOs visited Bhimpur to place wreaths at Soren's grave and Jatiya Adibashi Chhatra Parishad formed a human chain in Rajshahi city to mark the day with protests. Soren's killing sparked countrywide protests, forcing the then government to declare that the disputed lands belonged to the local indigenous people. Now, nine years have passed but Alfred Soren murder case is still under trial. Jatiya Adibashi Parishad general secretary Rabindranath Soren told The Daily Star that the government should immediately take steps to return 250 bighas of indigenous people's lands captured over the years by the local landlords. Our RU Correspondent adds: The indigenous students in Rajshahi yesterday formed a human chain demanding speedy trial of Alfred Soren killing case. Under the banner of Adivashi Chhatra Parishad, they also held a rally at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point demanding immediate arrest of the killers and speedy trial of the case. Parishad president Harendranath Singh, general secretary Manik Saren, organising secretary Nabadeep Lakra and other leaders addressed the rally.