Clash over setting up electric pole in Gaibandha, 15 hurt
Clash over setting up electric pole in Gaibandha, 15 hurt
5 shops, godown, husking mills badly damaged
At least 15 people were injured in a clash between two rival groups over setting up an electric pole at Chikney Bazar in Sadullapur upazila on Saturday.
Five grocery shops, a godown and some husking mills were also vandalised during the incident.
Of the injured, Faruk Mia,35, Taleb Ali, 36, Raju Mia, 33, Toha Sarker, 38, Toza Sarker, 40, Jadu Mia, 26, Suja Mia, 41 and freedom fighter Raja Mia, 65, were admitted to the upazila health complex while the rest given first aid.
Police and witnesses said Rangpur Palli Bidyut Samity has been setting up electric poles in the upazila for the last two months.
The work for extension of electric lines at Chikney Bazar recently came to a halt last month as local trader Yunus Ali Sarker of Chikney village in Jamalpur union and his relatives protested setting up electric pole over their houses.
On Saturday afternoon, the villagers of Uttar Chandkarim in Faridpur union along with the linemen and labourers of Palli Bidyut Samity gathered at the disputed point for setting up an electric pole but they were resisted by Yunus Ali Sarker and his men, triggering the clash.
At least 15 people from both sides were injured during the incident, said locals.
At least five grocery shops, a warehouse and husking mills of Yunus Ali and his relatives were also ransacked at the bazar during the incident.
“Earlier, we filed a complaint with Rangput Palli Bidyut Samity for not setting up electric poll over their houses, but the authorities did not pay any heed to the matter,” said freedom fighter Mesher Ali Sarker, owner of one of the damaged grocery shops.
Punitive action would be taken against those responsible for the offence after investigating the matter, said Zia Latifur Rahman, officer in-charge of Sadullapur Police Station.
Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to avert any further trouble, said the OC.