‘ Altaf-gang’ poisoned 60 bighas of paddy[ Naogaon , Bangladesh ]

[ Reported as seen ]

In Patnitola Upazila of Naogaon district of Bangladesh, the local radical Islamists known as the ‘Altaf gang’ destroyed 60 bighas of Aman paddy farmed by indigenous sharecroppers by spraying herbicides. The paddy was worth atleast 30 Lakh Takas. This gravely impacted the  indigenous farmers.

A victim, Sebayet Gopal Roy lamented, “My 60 bighas of paddy have been poisoned. Altaf Gang has done this and it is real, not a guess. Now how can I get compensation? I have filed a case. Apart from seeking legal justice, I have no other way.”

Another victim said, “What will we do now? We have become completely destitute. We have done this farming by selling our cows and calves. What will our 150 families eat now? As we are indigenous people, no one listens to us. Altaf gang calls us small caste, they drive us away saying these things, they threaten us. They say how you take the paddy, we will see. If necessary, we will cut the paddy and carry it away or we will destroy it.”

Caretaker of the lands said, “Altaf, Badal, Sekander, Badal and 31 people together gave this poison. They had threatened earlier too.