12 hurt as land grabbers clash with police

At least 12 people, including three cops, sustained injuries in a confrontation between police and indigenous people at Shahebganj cane farm of Rangpur Sugar Mill in Mohimaganj union under Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha yesterday.

Police said, following a complaint by the mill authorities, they raided Shahebganj cane farm to evict illegal occupants who had erected hundreds of makeshift sheds on the land on the plea of regaining their forefathers' properties.

"They have erected hundreds of makeshift sheds just to grab landed properties of the sugar mill prior to Eid. As per complaint of the mill authorities, police raided the spot to demolish the illegal structures, but the villagers attacked the law enforcers, causing injuries to 12 people, including three cops," said Abdul Awal, managing director of the sugar mill.

The villagers vandalised the office and the staff quarters of the cane farm, and beat up employees and labourers. They damaged official papers and ransacked motor cycles, he added.

Police had to fire a few rounds of blank shots to disperse the villagers.

It will take time to demolish all the structures, said Mozammel Haque, officer-in-charge of Gobindaganj Police Station.

A tense situation is still prevailing in the area.