40 hurt in Sylhet
At least 40 people were injured in a clash between students of Shahjalal City College and transport workers at the city's Mendibag intersection yesterday afternoon.
Of them, 10 suffered bullet injuries and were sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
During the hour-long clash, students vandalised 15 microbuses on the micro stand, while the transport workers destroyed furniture and windowpanes of the college.
A chase and counter chase took place between students and transport workers and police had to fire rubber bullets and tear gas canisters to bring the situation under control, said Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Sylhet Kotwali Police Station. 18 persons, including seven students were arrested from the scene.
According to eyewitnesses, an altercation between two rival factions of students broke out on the campus around 11:30pm. Later, one group came out of the college and went to the nearby microbus stand where they vandalised some microbuses.
Later, transport workers arrived in the spot and locked into a clash with students. They chased the students and beat some teachers and students on the campus and also vandalised furniture and windowpanes.
The transport men then blocked the busy road near the intersection and burnt tyres. Police asked the agitators to clear the road, but they denied. The law enforcers then fired rubber bullets to disperse them.
The law enforcers also picked up some 10 students from the college after some of them hurled brickbats at the lawmen.
Anwar Hossain, a micro bus driver, alleged that students of the college often get involved in clashes among themselves and vandalise vehicles on the stand.
Rejecting the allegation, Ohi Alam, a teacher of the college, said transport workers attacked students and teachers and destroyed furniture. They (teachers and students) also called police for help but to no avail.
Meanwhile, transport workers, after a meeting at 3:00pm, announced a 4-point demand, including freeing the arrested workers in 3 hours, compensation for 15 vehicles vandalised by the students, withdrawal of the Shahjalal City College principal and steps against police for firing on the transport workers.
Sylhet Zila Sarak Paribahan Samity President Selim Ahmed, who chaired the meeting at the Mendibag Microbus Sramik Samity office, alleged that 15 transport workers sustained rubber bullet wounds and were admitted to hospital.
However, Tanmoy Bhattacharya, deputy director of the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, said 10 injured people were brought in the hospital. Of them, seven were admitted and three were discharged after first aid, he added.
Four students were also injured and undergoing treatment at different private hospitals.
Additional law enforcers were deployed in the area to avert further untoward incident, said Mohammad Rahamat Ullah, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.
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