Indigenous people of Madhupur protest death of leader in joint forces custody

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The indigenous community of Madhupur continued their agitation yesterday demanding investigation of the questionable death of one of their leaders allegedly in the custody of the joint forces.

The deceased leader Chalesh Risil Sangma was buried at his village Maguntinagar yesterday. His wife Sandha Simsang submitted a petition to Madhupur police station in the morning holding some local forest department officials and an officer of the joint forces responsible for the death of her husband.

Hundreds of indigenous people including women and children crowded Chalesh’s house yesterday wearing black ribbons.

Local indigenous leaders told The Daily Star that black flags will be hoisted at every house of the indigenous community in Madhupur on Tuesday and Wednesday protesting the ‘unnatural death’ of Chalesh.

Ajoy-a-Mre, president of Joinshahi Adivashi Unnayon Parishad, told The Daily Star yesterday that they will not hold any discussion with the administration until it takes steps against the officials of law enforcement agencies and the forest department, who are allegedly responsible for Chalesh’s death.

Ugin Nokrake, president of Madhupur Tribal Welfare Association said Chalesh was one of the main organisers of the movement against alleged repression and torture by the forest department and against the Eco Park Project in Madhupur.

So the forest department filed cases against Chalesh under the Forest Act at different times in retaliation, Ugin added.

“After the declaration of the state of emergency, the forest department restarted the controversial boundary wall construction at Madhupur forest. The government, however, suspended the wall construction in the face of protests by the local indigenous community led by Chalesh Risil. As a result, officials of the forest department became hostile towards local indigenous leaders including Chalesh,” Ugin said.

Ajoy-a-Mre said the forest officials got Chalesh killed by the law enforcers, misguiding them with false information.

Meanwhile, although the duty officer of Madhupur police station received the petition of Chalesh’s widow, he did not record it, according to local residents.

When contacted over the phone yesterday, Riaz Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station told The Daily Star that they received an unnatural death case earlier in connection with Chalesh’s death.

“The petition of Chalesh’s wife was received as per the rules. We will take legal steps in this matter after getting the autopsy report,” the OC said.

Tuhin Hadima, Piren Simsang and Protab Jambil, who had also been allegedly detained along with Chalesh, were made witnesses in the petition.

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