CHANDPUR — A farmer in Matlab Dakshin upazila has accused a rival of cutting down a one-bigha pumpkin crop on his leased land amid a land dispute, just weeks before harvest.
The pumpkin plants were cut down on Friday night, Dec. 12, in Naluya village. The injured farmer’s son filed a written complaint at the local police station accusing Bipul Pradhan, son of the late Jamir Hossain Pradhan from the same household, of carrying out the act.
Matlab Dakshin police sub-inspector Abdul Hai inspected the damaged pumpkin field of farmer Mojammel Pradhan on Saturday, Dec. 13, after the complaint was lodged.
Mojammel Pradhan said he had leased 36 decimals of land for one year for 25,000 taka from Solaiman Pradhan, son of the late Junab Ali Pradhan of the same area, on a borrowed sum. He cultivated pumpkins on the land. All the plants had flowered and some had begun bearing small fruit. He had already spent about 50,000 taka and expected to sell the crop in January. Now the pumpkin plants have been uprooted with their roots.
Rakib Pradhan, Mojammel’s son, said the family had a longstanding land dispute with Bipul Pradhan. “Last Wednesday they argued with us during the day, and at one point tried to assault me,” he said. “On Friday night, Bipul was seen loitering near our field. We believe he uprooted my father’s sweet pumpkin plants.”
Matlab Dakshin police officer in charge Md. Hafizur Rahman Manik said a complaint had been received about the incident. “Police forces have been sent to the scene. Action will be taken after investigation,” he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report