13 detainees shown arrested as named accused in case

Thirteen people out of the 14 who were allegedly detained by police -- during and following a clash between law enforcers and agitators protesting jute mill closure in Khulna's Atra industrial area on Monday -- were shown arrested in a case yesterday.

Sub-inspector Mehedi Hasan of Khanjahan Ali Police Station under Khulna Metropolitan Police filed the case, accusing 14 people by name and some 250 unnamed people.

Prabir Kumar Biswas, officer-in-charge (OC) Khanjahan Ali Police Station, told The Daily Star that the case was filed at 4:15pm on Monday.

However, until Monday evening, KMP Deputy Commissioner (North) Mollah Jahangir Hossain had not been able to confirm the matter, when contacted via phone. He had said at the time that legal action was being taken, and that nine people were detained.

When asked, OC Prabir said the case was filed for loss of life and property, vandalism and assault on police, mentioning names of 14 people and 200 to 250 unidentified.

 "Of the accused, 13 have been arrested and handed over to the court, OC added.

 The accused in the case are Janardan Dutta Nantu, Khulna coordinator of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal; Mozammel Hossain Khan, former CBA general secretary of Jashore Jute Industry; Oliar Rahman, convener of Fultala upazila branch of Gaosamhati Andolon; central member of CPB Mizanur Rahman; workers Rabiul Islam, Sheikh Rabiul Islam alias Robi, Shamser Alam, Al Amin Sheikh, Nowsher Ali, Faruk Hossain, Jahangir Sardar, Shahidul Islam and Abul Hossain.

Of them, Mozammel is on the run, said police.

 An organisation called Sammilita Nagarik Parishad started a blockade of Khulna-Jashore highway in Atra industrial area as per a pre-announced program at 11am on Monday. Hundreds of activists from various social organisations and jute mill workers in Khulna participated in the programme.

When police confronted the protesters, a clash broke out, during which police charged batons and used tear gas.

Agitators claimed that about 20 workers including 10 women were injured at that time.

 On the other hand, police claimed that nine police members were injured. Two buses and a private car were vandalised during the clash, they said.

During the clash, some agitators were trapped inside Eastern Jute Mill. About two hours later, 14 activists and workers came out from the mill around 3:30pm, where police detained them and took them to Khanjahan Ali Police Station.

Kudrat-e-Khuda, convener of the citizens' platform, was released from the police station around 11pm.

Police prevented a peaceful blockade at the Eastern Mill Gate on Monday. "We asked them to let us observe the programme for at least an hour, but they did not listen," said the Khulna chairman of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik, adding that police treated them "inhumanely".

 Police in a statement on Monday night said a moving bus was vandalised by stones  during a blockade. Also, nine policemen, including a senior officer, were injured.