Indigenous leaders demand reinvestigation of Chalesh Ritchil's death
Adivasi leader Sanjib Drong, Prof Mejbah Kamal and Sanjib Drong's wife placing wreath on Chalesh Ritchil's grave yesterday. Chalesh Ritchil (inset).Photo: STAR
Indigenous leaders have demanded proper investigation into the death of Madhupur indigenous leader Chalesh Ritchil who died on this day last year. At the memorial meeting of Chalesh Ritchil at his village Maguntinagar at Madhupur upazila in Tangail to mark his first death anniversary yesterday, they the government should try the 'killers' of Madhupur indigenous leader Chalesh Ritchil. Chalesh Ritchil was vocal about the rights of local indigenous people and he always talked against torture and oppression, they said. With convener of the death anniversary observance committee Abraham Remang in the chair, former lawmaker Promod Mankin attended the memorial meeting as chief guest. Among others, general secretary of Adivashi Adhikar Andolon Prof Mezbah Kamal, indigenous author Subhash Jemchang, general secretary of the Indigenous People's Forum Sanjib Drang, indigenous leader Albert Mankin, president of Joinshahi Adivashi Unnayan Parishad Ajoy-a-Mre, Chalesh's wife Shandhya Rani Simsanj, Benedict Mansang and indigenous women's leader Rakhi Mrong spoke. Earlier, a special prayer directed by father Nikolas and father Sushanto was held at the grave of Chalesh Ritchil. Chalesh Ritchil, arrested by the joint forces from Kalibari area under Muktagachha upazila in Mymensingh on March 18, died on the same day in Madhupur. After the death, administration officials said Chalesh fell unconscious when he ran to escape arrest by joint forces and died after he was taken to Madhupur Upazila Health Complex. Dr Kamruzzaman of Madhupur Upazila Health Complex filed an unnatural death case with Madhupur Police Station in this regard. Chalesh's family members, however, alleged that he was died due to torture by the joint forces at Kakraid Army Camp and demanded to the government of proper investigation of the incident. Chalesh's first wife Shandhya Rani Simsang on March 21 submitted a petition to Madhupur Police Station holding some local forest department officials and an officer of a law enforcement agency was responsible for the death of her husband. Tuhin Hadima, Piren Simsang and Protab Jambil, who had also been allegedly detained along with Chalesh, were made witnesses in the petition. Madhupur police received the petition but they are yet to record it as a case. Government on May 5 formed a one-member probe committee with a retired district and session judge Rofi Uddin Ahmed to investigate the death. But the probe report is yet to be published. Meantime, Madhupur police gave the final report of the unnatural death case filed for the death of Chalesh on September 13 last year and court received the report. “It was mentioned at the autopsy report and the report of the administration that Chalesh died due to heart attack,” Sub Inspector Abdul Khalek, investigation officer of the unnatural death case, said. Meanwhile, Composite Brigade and Madhupur Upazila Administration on Monday gave 500 kg rice, 6 kg sugar, 10 kg edible oil, Tk 2,000 in cash and kitchen and bakery items to two widows of Chalesh Ritchil to observe the death anniversary of the deceased indigenous leader. Several months ago, joint forces and Madhupur upazila administration gave Tk 50,000 and two sewing machines to the two widows.
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