Durga Puja boycotted at Dinajpur's Khansama due to non-prosecution of the murder

Salah Uddin Ahmed, Dinajpur: A Durga Puja in Khansama Upazila of Dinajpur as per the announced program to demand the arrest and trial of the murderers of a tribal woman who was raped and murdered. Local residents of Sanatan Dharmalambi are protesting by hoisting black flags instead of banging drums and cheering in the mandap. The incident is taking place at Kumarpara Sarvajanin Puja Mandapam in Tongua of Bhervedi Union No. 2. 64 days ago today Saturday, a housewife named Upobala was raped and killed on the way while leaving her father's house with her baby daughter. The villagers have already held various programs including standard-setting to demand justice for the murder. Due to the lack of arrest and trial of those involved, as per the announced program, on the sixth day of Saturday morning, they started the exceptional protest program by hoisting the black flag in the mandap. However, devotional prayers are offered to the goddess through Ghot Puja without idols. Anant Kumar Roy, a resident who participated in the program, said that due to the lack of justice in Upo Bala's murder case, they are protesting by boycotting the autumn Durga Puja and hoisting the black flag. They will not celebrate any religious festival with fanfare in that mandap until justice is done for the murder. Forced to use grief as energy, they are carrying out the program. Another protester, Nripendra Nath Roy, said that in the context of Upo Bala's murder, they are boycotting the autumn Durga Puja instead of celebrating it with joy. Adults including children don't wear new clothes. Instead of cheering, they are holding a protest program by hanging banners with anti-violence slogans titled 'Stand united against communal evil' at the entrance of the mandap. Dhiman Das, President of Khansama Upazila Committee of Pooja Celebration Parishad, said that the father had filed a case demanding trial for Upobala's murder. The case is under investigation by PBI. The upazila administration has held a meeting with the villagers along with their families to withdraw the exclusion program. But this time puja is not being performed as they are adamant about the demand of not getting justice for the murder