Photo: Messenger
On the occasion of Christmas last Tuesday, after attending the prayer and night ceremony in the church of Tongajhiripara, the next morning they returned to their para and found 16 houses burnt to ashes. The Christian Tripura community has yet to build a church in this para. Because of this, last Tuesday evening, 19 families of the para, including children and elders, went to celebrate Christmas in the church of the nearby Tongajhiri para. The next day that is yesterday (today Wednesday) morning, I had to face this reality when I returned to the para. The words were spoken by Gungamani Tripura of Tongajhiri East Betchara Para. The para is located in Ward No. 8 of Soroi Union of Lama Upazila of the district.
Villagers said that a few years ago, an influential police officer forcibly occupied our Jum land Complaining to the administration at that time did not yield any results. After taking possession, it was named SP Bagan. The police officer's men have cut down large teak, gum trees and different species of bamboo created by the villagers. A few years ago they came to know that the person retired. Complain to the administration again. Then they told us that the places land are Khas. After that, we were placed in Jum land. However, the gurd of the SP, Ibrahim, left the place but stayed in a house near the Lama road in Tongazhiri area. Every day he comes back to Betcharapara area. But he did not talk to anyone. The suspicion of most of the residents in the fire incident is towards him. The fire was planned. Because if a fire starts in one house, it should not spread to another house. Because the difference from one house to another house is more than twenty feet. Now it is winter and there is no wind. Villagers said that each house was set on fire separately.
Gungamoni told The Daily Messenger that ward member Jamal and UP Secretary came yesterday (Today) afternoon and distributed a bag of rice weighing 50 kg and a blanket to each family. Earlier Lama upazila executive officer visited the scene.
However, two sacks of rice weighing 50 kg and one loincloth per family have been distributed to the victims of the fire, Sarai Union Parishad Chairman Md. Idris.
Lama upazila executive officer Rupayan Deb confirmed the truth of the incident. He told The Daily Messenger that the administration has given daily necessities and necessary advice to the victims. Besides, two blankets have been distributed to each family.
Messenger/Maungting/Tushar
