On Friday, fire broke out on the plantation at noon affecting 18 acres of the plantation, Rangpur Sugar Mill authorities said. Sugarcane on 18 acres have been burnt, he added without identifying the cause of the fire. The Sahebganj-Bagda sugarcane plantation was established in 1962 after acquiring 1480.30 acres of land from 18 villages in Gobindaganj. However, the local Santals have been unhappy, blaming plantation authorities of violating the agreement and encroaching on their ancestors' lands. Meanwhile, Ilium Tudu, the father of one of the Santals killed during the November clash said that the incident is a ploy to frame the Santals.

Source: bd News24 January 14, 2017 16:58 UTC