Gaibandha Correspondent

A protest rally was held in Gobindaganj of Gaibandha demanding the withdrawal of what participants described as false extortion and theft cases filed against innocent members of the Santal community.

Speakers at the gathering called for an immediate end to alleged harassment and warned that a larger and tougher movement would be launched if their demands were not met promptly.

The protest rally was organized by the Manjhi Council on Sunday afternoon at Rajabirat Bazar under Rajahar Union of the upazila. The event was chaired by Santal leader Bitish Soren.

Addressing the rally, speakers alleged that Shafiqul, brother of the Rajahar Union Parishad Chairman, and a local individual identified as Ujjal, had filed false cases with the intention of evicting Santals from their land and creating fear among the indigenous community.

They claimed that on June 21, 2025, a case was filed in the Gobindaganj Court accusing 13 people, including Shyambala Hembrom, Sumi Soren, and Bitish Soren, of extortion and theft.

Among those who spoke at the rally were indigenous leaders Ripon Besra Joy, Taramoni Soren, Saheb Murmu, Marina Soren, Julius, Kamalesh Soren, Rup Soren, Shyambala Hembrom, Olivia Hembrom, Momota Hembrom, and Shiuli Hembrom. Also speaking were Anisur Rahman Moinul, Organizing Secretary of the Sahebganj-Bagda Farm Land Recovery Committee, human rights activist and social worker Monir Hossain Sweet, and Ruhul Amin. Leaders of the Oraon community, Milon Tigga and Abina Toppa, were also present.

The speakers said, the Santal community has never been involved in extortion, theft, or land grabbing. They alleged that false cases were being used as a tool to intimidate indigenous families and facilitate attempts to seize their ancestral land and homesteads.

The rally demanded the immediate withdrawal of the cases, an end to harassment of the Santal community, and a fair resolution of land-related disputes