Land dispute turns violent as 101 trees cut in Dinajpur
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Five people allegedly cut down 101 mango and plum trees following a land dispute in Nawabganj, Dinajpur.
Nawabganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Kuddus confirmed the matter.
A person named Tara Miah filed a written complaint at Nawabganj Police Station on Thursday.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on 20 October around 8:30 am in Podumhar Mouza under number 8 Mahmudpur Union of the upazila. The five accused people are Soma Oraon, 50, Arjun Oraon, 37, Shirin Soren, 30, Fulmati Oraon, 45, and Suman Oraon, 22 of that village.
Tara said there are 50 decimals of Forest Department land adjacent to his ancestral land. Around 25-30 years ago, the father of the accused, Mongol Oraon, sold that land to Tara’s father. Since then, they have been in possession of the land.
He added that about two years ago, as part of a demonstration, the Nawabganj Upazila Agriculture Office planted Katimon mango saplings on that land. In addition, Tara was planting and nurturing trees of various species on his ancestral land as well. However, he alleged that recently, claiming the Forest Department land as their own, the accused attempted to take possession of it.
Tara claimed that the accused entered the land and cut down 47 mango tree saplings and 54 plum trees. Later, receiving news through locals, he went to the spot and found the trees in a felled state. This caused him a loss of around Tk 1,80,000.
OC Kuddus said legal action will be taken.
