Peasants' body demands arrest of timber smugglers
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR, Oct 15: It is a crimil conspiracy of mafias, police and forest personnel that the culprits involved in the smuggling and illegal activities in the business of forest wealth go scot free while the protectors of forest are put behind the bar. Bharatiya Krishak Sramik Mahasamiti (BKSM), Cachar district committee, has stood up for a social activist Ronit Chandra Barman of village Dakhin Digli under Jaypur police station and an active member of the Mahasamiti. In protest against the arrest and detention of Ranit Chandra Barman and the rounding up of the crimils, hundreds of activists of BKSM held protest demonstration before the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today.
It was a travesty of justice that for protecting the rich resources of forest, he was not only mercilessly beaten up by antisocial elements identified as Subrata Barman, De Barman, Motilal Barman, Adhar Barman and ban Barman of Binodpur village under Madhura gaon panchayat. They are the surrender DHD men. Mahasamiti in a representation to the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar today has blamed the Udharbond police personnel for their failure to do their lawful duties.
Instead of arresting the crimils, they took into custody Ranit Chandra Barman on false and fabricated charges at the instigation of mafias. He is still lodged in Silchar Central Jail under medical care and treatment. He has not yet come around from his injuries which are serious and in all probability he might have to damage his eyes permanently. Mahasamiti impresses upon the Deputy Commissioner to make arrangement for his specialized treatment to save his eyes.
Sripada Dhar, general secretary of the Mahasamiti, alleged that FIR in regard to the assault on Ranit Chandra Barman was not recorded by the police for fear of the assailants and their cohorts. He has also alleged that the relatives of Ranit Barman are being threatened. As a result of which, the relatives and villagers of Binodpur are passing their days in fear and apprehension of being put to trouble.
It is on this ground that they cannot bring the crimil assault on Ranit Chandra Barman before the higher authorities concerned. As a social activist, Ranit Chandra Barman has been raising his voice against the illegal extraction of stone materials from quarries. The illegal extraction and excavation have been badly affecting the inhabitants along the rivers and their homes as well as cultivable lands. Mahasamiti submits this representation with the high expectation that the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar will exert his good offices to do justice to Ranit Chandra Barman.