Protest demanding Tk 500 wage: injured protesters sued, one held

An injured tea worker leader was arrested after protesters demanding a Tk 500 daily wage in Srimangal were allegedly attacked, with the demonstrators claiming that they were subsequently sued in a case filed by the tea workers' union.

Geeta Rani Kanu, one of the leaders of the movement, was named the prime accused in the case. Police held her last night and sent her to court, said Abdullah Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Srimangal Police Station.

The protesters alleged that 10 to 12 people were injured in the attack and that some of those injured were receiving treatment when they learned that a case had been filed against them.

The incident took place on Monday after a human chain at Choumuhna in Srimangal and during a rally organised as part of the movement demanding a Tk 500 daily wage for tea workers.

OC said a case was filed naming Gita Rani Kanu as the prime accused, along with four to five other named accused and six to seven unidentified people.

According to the first information report (FIR) seen by The Sylhet Today , Nipen Paul, general secretary of the central committee of the Bangladesh Tea Workers Union, filed the case under sections 143, 323, 427, 379, 506 and 114 of the Penal Code.

The charges include unlawful assembly, assault causing injury, vandalism and damage to property, theft and criminal intimidation.

The other named accuseds are Janaklal Deshwara, Akash Goala, Bishwa Prasad Goala and Gopal Yadav.

The FIR alleges that the accused, acting as a group, unlawfully entered the Labour House, attacked and assaulted Nipen Paul, stole Tk 5,700 in cash and damaged furniture worth Tk 20,000. It also alleges that they threatened those present before leaving the premises.

However, Gita Rani denied the allegations and claimed that the protesters were attacked while they were taking part in the rally.

She said they had initially planned to march towards the DDL and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer's (UNO) office and had obtained police permission for the programme. While passing along the road opposite the Tea Workers Union office, they were allegedly attacked.

She said, tea worker leader Dulal Hazra first tore their banner. She alleged that later, union finance secretary Paresh Kalindi and leader Subash Rabidas took them towards the union office gate.

Gita Rani alleged that Nipen Paul, Balishira Valley president Bijoy Hazra, Suman Hazra and Suman Tanti, along with several others, then assaulted them.

She claimed that 10 to 12 protesters were injured, including Janaklal Deshwara, Radhamohan Nunia and herself. They received treatment at Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital, she said.

Gita Rani said she could not file a complaint immediately because she was receiving treatment. When she went to the police station the following day, she learned that a case had already been filed against the protesters.

Another tea worker leader, Akash Doshad, said they had video footage of the alleged attack.

He also alleged that the attack took place in the presence of police, but the officers failed to protect the protesters. He claimed that those who attacked them had themselves vandalised the union office and were now trying to blame the protesters.

Nipen Paul, however, denied the allegations of assault. He said the protesters went to the Tea Workers Union office, shouted slogans and used abusive language in an attempt to occupy the office. That is why I filed the case.

Nipen said they did not have any video footage showing whether the protesters entered the office and vandalised it. He also said there were no CCTV cameras inside the office.

Asked about the fact that some of the accused were injured, he said, Being injured does not mean that a complaint or case cannot be filed against someone. But no one has the right to enter the organisation's office, abuse people or create disorder.

Nipen said he was standing near the union office gate during the incident, denied assaulting anyone. He said an investigation should determine whether any assault took place inside the office.

Ahmed Faisal Zaman, resident medical officer of Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital, said three people had been admitted with injuries. They returned home the following day after receiving treatment.

Janaklal, one of the accused, said they left the hospital because they felt unsafe after learning about the case and sought treatment elsewhere.

Tea workers have been continuing their movement with several demands, including a daily wage of Tk 500, cancellation of the five percent increment, land rights and union elections.

Nipen Paul said the demand for an “interim committee” was also raised during Monday's programme. He questioned whether there was any motive behind raising the issue alongside the wage movement and said that should also be investigated.