Goons of land grabbers loot paddy from fields

Farmers alarmed in Baufal char area in Patuakhali, seek police help

12 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali:

Land grabbers and their musclemen looted paddy from six acres of land at Char Mothbaria under Baufal upazila yesterday morning. Local farmers said a gang of 25 to 30 musclemen came to the char in two trawlers early yesterday and started cutting ripe paddy. After cutting the paddy, they took them to Dhulia Bazar in the upazila by the trawlers, the farmers added. Farmers Firoz Talukder, Kalu Paik and Abdur Rob Howlader claimed that they got allotment of six acres of char land from local land office but the grabbers and their musclemen looted paddy from the land. We had earlier urged the local administration to take steps to save our paddy from the looters, but to effect, they alleged. When contacted, Sub-inspector Abul Kalam of Baufal Police Station said, “We are not aware of such incident in the char area. If anyone files complaint with the police station, we shall take legal steps.” Fearing attacks by land grabbers and their musclemen, farmers of 10 other chars under Baufal upazila have already requested the local administration to set up police camps on the chars. Several hundred people are living in char areas of the upazila. After getting yearly allocation called DCR (duplicate carbon receipt) from local land office, they produce aman in those chars. But every year, they face attacks by the grabbers and their musclemen. Ayub Ali, a farmer of Roy Bashidevpasha said, “I cultivated aman on three acres of land, taking loans from local NGOs. But the grabbers have already given a threat to loot paddy from my land. Ibrahim Faruq, chairman of Najirpur Union Parishad (UP) under Baufal upazila said, local landless people cultivate khas char land by taking DCRs from local land office. But grabbers and their hired goons come to the char areas from adjoining Lalmohon and Bhola Sadar upazilas and loot paddy as there is a dispute over boundary demarcation between Patuakhali and Bhola. Monir Houssan Mollah, chairman for Kalaiya UP under Baufal upazila, said they have submitted an application to the deputy commissioner, (DC), Patuakhali, demanding police camps on char areas. Contacted, ASP Md Mohuddin said they have decided to set up three police camps, one each for Baufal, Galachipa and Dashmina char areas, as early as possible.