Dhaka: A report submitted before the High Court said two police members have direct involvement in setting fire to the houses of Santal community during the eviction drive in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha.

Rangpur police range Sub-inspector (DIG) Chowdhury Manjurul Kabir submitted the report before a HC bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan, and Justice Krishna Debnath on Thursday.

The report says Gaibandha police Detective Branch sub-inspector (SI) Mahbubur Rahman, and district police line constable Sajjad Hossain were involved with the arson incident.

It reads the police members were withdrawn earlier. Now, the police department will take action against them.

Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Shaju told journalists the HC ordered to document the issue of taking action against the police officials.

The HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath also issued another order on 7 February considering a report, which claimed some of the police members have direct links with the incident.

The HC ordered to withdraw police superintendent of Gaibandha police Ashraful Islam, and police members who were on duty at the Chamrigari police during the incident.

On 31 January, Gaibandha chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Shahidullah submitted a 65-page report before the apex court.

On 14 January, the HC directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gaibandha investigate to dig out whether police was involved in setting fire to the Santal houses.

The court also directed the police to conduct the investigation giving the two cases—filed on November 17 and 26 against 600 people and 33 people respectively over the same issue—same status.

It instructed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Rangpur Range to give the charge of the investigation to a senior officer of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) under the supervision of a police official not lower than the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).

On 26 November, a case was filed against 33 people, including a ruling party MP, upazila nirbahi officer, managing director of Rangpur Sugar Mill and officer-in-charge of Gobindaganj police station, in connection with the attack on Santal people in Gobindaganj upazila.

Chhomas Hembrom, a member of the indigenous community, filed the case with the help of three human rights organizations—‘Nijera Kori’, ‘Ain o Salish Kendra’ and Blast (Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust).

Awami League MP of Gaibandha-4 Abul Kalam Azad, UNO Abdul Hannan, MD of the sugar mill Abdul Awal, OC Subrata Kumar Sarkar and 29 other people were made accused in the case filed after 20 days of the incident.

On 17 November, Swapan Murmu, a member of the community, filed a case against 600 people in connection with the attack.

Two Santal men were killed and 30 people, including nine policemen, injured following a clash with law enforcers and workers of Rangpur Sugar Mills in Gobindaganj upazila on 6 November.

The clash broke out when workers of Rangpur Sugar Mills along with police went to Bagda Farm area to reclaim land of the sugar mill allegedly occupied by the Santal community.