Police-villager clash leaves 10 bullet-hit

At least 25 people were injured, including 10 with bullets in a clash between police and villagers during an eviction drive in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj yesterday.

Local administration said when police conducted the drive to free a government land at Sundratiki village which was leased out to a tea company some 32 years ago, villagers obstructed them, triggering the clash.

Police fired rubber bullets, lobbed tear shells and gunshots to control the situation, leaving 25 villagers injured.

The bullet-wounded people were identified as Abdal Mia, Idris Mia, Abdur Rashid, Renu Mia, Jwel Mia, Habib Ullah, Azad, Shaheen Mia, Al Amin and Sohel Mia.

Abdal Mia and Idris Mia, two among the bullet-hit people, were taken to Sylhet Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition.

Bahubal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Jasim Uddin said, the land was leased out to James Finlay Limited 32 years ago.

Meanwhile, Abdul Awal Minto, a resident of Sundratiki village, said they had been using the land for the last 200 years.