Police in Jessore have been accused of grabbing lands leased to Hindu families despite the lease being a sub-judicial matter.
They have also been accused of speaking ill of the religion of the minority families during eviction.
Addressing a press briefing on behalf of the affected families at Jessore Press Club yesterday, Binoy Krishna Mallik, executive director of rights group Rights Jessore, said police carried out the eviction drive in Garikhana Road on the night of February 5.
“Police grabbed houses and businesses on 1.20 acres of land. They emptied the enterprises and locked them. When the families protested, they were threatened with false cases,” he said.
“An appeal case was filed against the lease in 1955 and the High Court is hearing it,” he added.
Binoy called on police to return the houses and businesses to the Hindu families, and also warned that stern steps would be taken otherwise.
Shafin Mahmud, assistant superintendent of police (Sadar) in Jessore, refused to make any comment on the allegation against police.