Most of the males are fleeing homes since police teams from Nilphamari, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Range Reserve Police from Rajshahi launched raids in Dangapara, East Bottagari, Khorddo Botlagari, Kisamat Kadikhol, Porar Hat and Gulpora villages on March 22.

Some local people while talking to this correspondent alleged that police are assaulting and harassing villagers and that most of those arrested are "innocent day labourers".

Police earlier said two wireless sets, a rifle with eight bullets and a shotgun magazine were allegedly snatched during clashes with Bangalees on March 21. Bangalees were protesting a government plan to allot houses in its Uttara Housing Project only to Beharis (Urdu speaking people).

Police recovered the rifle along with eight bullets from Dangapara near Shutipara rail crossings on March 24 and a wireless set from Kadikhol on the western side of Chilahati-Parbatipur rail track the next day, both in abandoned conditions.

One wireless set and a magazine are yet to be recovered, police said.

The villagers said police are thoroughly searching houses, paddy fields, ponds, canals and other places.

Some women showed to newsmen signs of beating on their bodies. Police also ransacked houses during search and abused women, they alleged.

They said many women and children are starving as bread-earning male members are fleeing homes.

To discuss the situation, Botlagari Union Parishad Chairman Sayedur Rahman called an emergency meeting of his UP members at his office on March 23.

The chairman and all the members told newsmen that most of the arrested people are innocent day labourers. They demanded release of the innocent people and arrest of the real culprits.

Nilphamari Police Superi-ntendent, when contacted, told this correspondent that he did not get any written or verbal complaint from any one about alleged police harassment.

"We have instructed our forces to handle the situation with patience and caution so that innocent people are not harassed."

Other police sources said the search will continue till the wireless set and the magazine is recovered.

Meanwhile, Awami League central publicity secretary and a lawmaker from Nilphamari Sadar Asaduzzaman Noor at a public meeting on Nilphamari Shaheed Minar premises on Saturday alleged that police were harassing people in villages around the Uttara Housing Project.

He also alleged that the ruling party lawmaker from Syedpur is biased towards non-Bengalees and is trying to keep his vote bank intact, thus creating a chaotic situation in the area.

Ruling BNP lawmaker from Syedpur Amjad Hossen Sarkar told newsmen on March 23 at Syedpur that unrest was created in the area by some influential quarters who had illegally occupied and enjoyed the lands for 32 years before construction of the housing project.

Meanwhile the bail petition of Dr. Abul Hasan Bulu, leader of the Bangalees agitating for allotment of houses in the project, was rejected by court on two consecutive days. April 10 is the next hearing date.