Legal notice sent to DC over Santals eviction

Supreme Court lawyer Aynun Nahar Siddiqua sent the notice by post on Monday. The DC was asked to respond to the notice within November 30, otherwise legal steps would be taken, said Aynun. In the notice, the DC was asked to inform what measures he took to protect the lives and belongings of the Santals while they came under attacks, as he was responsible to ensure safety of all the inhabitants of the district, said the lawyer. Earlier, Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua sent a legal notice to nine people, including the home and industries secretaries, asking to explain under what authorities the eviction drive at Gobindaganj was conducted and what steps have been taken against those involved in attacking villagers, torching houses and looting. The notice, which was sent on behalf of two Santal victims, asks the respondents to answer in written within 24 hours, otherwise legal steps will be taken. Santals of Sahebganj-Bagda Farm area in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, came under police firing on November 6 when they protested eviction from their ancestral land by a group of people allegedly loyal to the local lawmaker. The evictors drove the Santals away and looted their homes and burned them to the ground. Three Santals were killed and more than 30 people were injured in the clashes.