CHHITMAHAL (ENCLAVE) DWELLERS DEMAND

Enclave dwellers want to meet Didi

The hunger strike sponsored by the Bharat Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Co-ordination Committee (BBEECC) drew an end with a threat to start the agitation afresh very soon.

The assistant secretary of the BBEECC, Mr Diptiman Sengupta said they lifted the hunger strike following assurance from the administration that their demands would be considered. But, if that assurance proves futile they would not hesitate to start a fresh movement, he warned.

The BBEECC sponsored hunger strike began at a Bangladeshi enclave named Mashaldanga that is situated along Dinhata-Salmara road near Nazirhat in Dinhata sub-division. The strike commenced at 12.01 a.m. on Sunday but it was lifted at the afternoon following assurance from senior officials like the DSP (Crime) and the local BDO.

Mr Sengupta said the DSP (Crime) Mr Rana Mukherjee arrived at the area where the hunger strike was going on. He assured the enclave dwellers that they would take initiative over release of the five enclave residents who were arrested as infiltrators. He also assured about the proposed meeting of the enclave dwellers with the chief minister, Mr Sengupta said, who is now under medical care at a private nursing home in Dinhata.  

On behalf of the hunger strikers it was made known to the officials that they would start a fresh movement if their demands were not fulfilled by 15 July, Mr Sengupta said. At the same time they demanded that their next place of hunger strike (if necessary) would be at a place at Dinhata town and the administration would have to allow them to do so.

According to BBEECC sources the five enclave residents who were arrested as infiltrators to Indian territory are : Akkas Ali Mandal, Abul Sheikh, Jobbar Sheikh, Amir Hossain and Hassem Sheikh.