Villagers ‘using arms, infringement’ in Sudan’s Sennar

Police have arrested villagers in eastern Sudan's Sennar on charges of infringement and the use of weapons last week. The residents have accused the authorities of fabricating the charges to force them to leave the village for investment projects.

The authorities arrested 27 residents of Waltra Turado last week and held them in Sinja prison; 15 of them were arrested on the third day of Eid El Fitr. They are charged with opposing the authorities, infringement, splurge and the use of weapons.

A witness said that 20 of the accused have been released, but seven remain in detention. Their case was planned to be held in public court on Wednesday, but it has been postponed to next week because the complainant, a policeman, was absent.

A villager told Radio Dabanga that members of the Central Reserve Police, commonly known as Abu Tira, raided Waltra Turado on the 29th day of the holy month of Ramadan. The arrested people are held “on charges of burning one of the cottages in one of the village agricultural projects”, he added.

Meanwhile the residents have accused the authorities of fabricating abusive reports against them in order to force them to leave the village, so their lands can be sold to investors.