Fwd: Police Attack against NFFPFW NBRC co-convener

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From: SADHAN ROY CHOWDHURY <sadhan.roychowdhury@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Subject: Fwd: Police Attack against NFFPFW NBRC co-convener

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From: Soumitra Ghosh <soumitrag@gmail.com>
Date: 8 April 2010 17:51
Subject: Police Attack against NFFPFW NBRC co-convener
To: forestrights@yahoogroups.com, Shankar Gopalakrishnan <shankargopal@myfastmail.com>, "C.R.Bijoy" <cr.bijoy@gmail.com>, Mamata Dash <mamata68@gmail.com>, Mohan Kothekar <mgkothekar61@gmail.com>, Souparna Lahiri <souparna.lahiri@gmail.com>, samar bosumullick <sanjay_samar@hotmail.com>, Sasanka Dev <sasankadev@gmail.com>, SADHAN ROY CHOWDHURY <sadhan.roychowdhury@gmail.com>, bappaditya paul <paul.bappaditya@gmail.com>, Abhi_majumdar <mazumdar.abhijit@gmail.com>, Ajit Kr Ray <akr.nbu@gmail.com>, Devjit Nandi <devjeetn@gmail.com>, Deba_SRIJAN <debashis.chakrobarty@gmail.com>, Ashok chowdhury <ashok.chowdhury@gmail.com>, Munnilal Haripur <vangram@gmail.com>, Roma <romasnb@gmail.com>

Please protest: Send faxes or call the DM: Jalpiguri 03561230127/Fax 03561224811/SDO Alipurduar 03564256391/Fax 03564255202/

Press Release

8^th April 2010

 

NFFPFW North Bengal Condemns attack on its co-convener Sundar Singh Rava

 

The democratic and non-violent movement by the forest dwellers of North Bengal for their just constitutional rights is under attack.  

 

In an alarming development, a team of unidentified police personnel entered the house of Sunder Singh Rava in the Kurmai forest village in the Chilapata forests under the Coochbehar Forest Division, at 3 AM in the morning on 8^th April. The police reportedly wanted to arrest Sundar Singh, but refused to give any reason. They did not reveal the nature of complaints, if any, against Sundar, and forcibly dragged him out. Meanwhile other villagers assembled, and because of their resistance, the police could not take Sundar away.

 

Sundar Singh Rava is not only a dynamic young leader of the area, he is also the co-convener of NFFPFW, North Bengal Regional Committee. He has no criminal records, and to the best of his ability has kept on fighting for people's rights and in the greater interests of conserving the bio-diversity rich forests of his area. The movement for forest rights and the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in a just manner has been continuing for several years now in the Chilapata area, in which Sundar played an important role. Of-late the Sundar and the forest villagers of Chilapata  have started a unique programme of community level forest conservation. Sundar's dynamism and unflinching dedication to the cause made him a target of the forest officials and the timber mafia of the area, and they repeatedly threatened him with 'dire consequences' unless he left the movement.

 

We see the midnight raid in Sundar's house as an attack not only on a person, but a well-designed conspiracy against the people's movement in the area, and against NFFPFW. We apprehend that the incidence is a result of collusion between the forest officials and the police.

 

The nature of the midnight raid raises several questions. Why didn't  the police go there in daytime? Why didn't they inform Sundar about his alleged offence?

 

When the NFFPFW members went to the Alipurduar Police Station today, the officers present there refused to give the case number, and did not give any information about the complaints. It was later learnt that the police is not starting proceedings against the villagers resisting Sundar's arrest.

 

On behalf of the NFFPFW North Bengal Regional Committee we demand that the administration looks into the matter, and suspends and withdraws the false cases against Sundar Singh Rava.

 

We affirm that our movement can not be intimidated or suppressed and such brazen moves will only result in more intense and prolonged mass movements throughout North Bengal.

 

Lalsingh Bhujel

 

Convener                  

North Bengal Regional Committee       

--
Soumitra Ghosh
NESPON/National Forum of Forest Peoples and Forest Workers(NFFPFW)  
5,Krishanu Dey Sarani
Babupara,Siliguri-734004
Siliguri,West Bengal, India
91-353-2661915/9194347-61915

--
sadhan roy chowdhury
No.2 debigarh,P.O: Madhyamgram;
North 24 Parganas; West Bengal;
Pin: 700 129;
Telephone: 033 2538 8696
                91 9433959824    

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/