Jamaat and Shibir men go berserk, 100 hurt, many vehicles vandalised, 5 motorcycles torched, 100 teargas shells lobbed, traffic movement came to a halt in the areas
Several motorcycles are torched in front of the Biman office at Motijheel in the capital during a pitch battle between Jamaat men and police on Monday afternoon. Photo: Amran Hossian
The entire Motijheel, Paltan, Dainik Bangla and Topkhana Road areas turned into a battlefield since Monday evening as Jamaat-e-Islami men fought pitched battle with police.
Around 100 people including 10 policemen were injured during the clash.
The angry Jamaat and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders and activists also vandalised a number of vehicles and torched five motorcycles.
Traffic movements on all the roads and its adjoining areas came to a halt during the clash.
The clash erupted when the Jamaat and Shibir leaders and activists brought out a procession at Motijheel area soon after the Asr prayers demanding immediate release of Jamaat senior leaders including its Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali Ahsun Mohammad Mojaheed.
When the procession came near Dainik Bangla intersection, police intercepted them, prompting the clash that continues around 5:40pm when this report was filed.
Nearly 100 teargas shells were lobbed as the unruly Jamaat-Shibir activists threw brick chips on the law enforcers.
Meanwhile, at least seven police were injured when activists of Jamaat-e-Islami clashed with them in Kushtia in the afternoon, reports our Kushtia correspondent.
The clash erupted at Thana Traffic Turn after police intercepted a rally brought out by the party in the town as part of their central programme.
“Suddenly the Jamaat men attacked the police and beat them up mercilessly, leaving seven cops injured,” told Zoynal Abedin, Additional Police Super Kushtia.
The Jamaat men used brick bats, bamboo sticks and iron rods during the attack. They also ransacked several shops of the area.
On information, additional police forces rushed to the sport and brought the situation under control.
Police arrested 20 leaders and activists from the spot.
Of the injured police, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Kushtia Model Police Obaidur Rahman, SI Nazmul and constable Ratan and Rakib were admitted to Kushtia general hospital.
Source: The Daily Star
