Hundreds of indigenous people from the Rajoar community on Saturday organized a rally to protest land grabbing, rape, and persecution in Chapainawabganj.
They blocked the Nochol Aminura road for hours and later organized a rally in Tongpara village under Sadar upazila.
Hingu Murmu, president of Uttarbanga Adivasi Forum, Bimol Chandra Rajoar, organizing secretary of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad central unit, and Adivasi Mukti Morcha President Biswanath Mahato were present at the rally.
The speakers alleged that criminals had been grabbing their arable land, homes, ponds, graveyards, cremation ground and land belonging to a temple, especially in Tongpara.
They demanded action against the land grabber Tarikul Islam and his gang. Otherwise, they vowed they would go for tougher movement.
The Adivasi leaders also demanded that 17 cases filed against the indigenous people of Tongpara village be investigated properly and the investigation reports be submitted soon.
Police did not agree to register cases, despite Adivasi leader Kanchona Rajoar being sexually assaulted on May 23 and another two leaders, Biswanath Mahato and Bongpal Sarder, being stabbed on June 25, the Adivasi people at the rally alleged.
