7 police personnel among 20 injured in clash with Hefajat activists in Gazipur

At least 20 people, including seven police personnel, were injured in a clash between Hefajat-e-Islam activists and police in Gazipur today.

The clash took place when Hefajat activists tried to go to the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to stage a demonstration after Juma prayers at Chandona Chourasta Jame masjid, said Sharifur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Crime-North) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP).

He said Hefajat-e-Islam activists were asked to hold their scheduled programme at the mosque premises. But when they tried to go on the highway, the police stopped them. At one stage, there was an altercation and the activists threw brick chips at police.

Police charged batons and fired over 100 rounds of tear gas shells and shotguns to disperse them, he said.

Seven police personnel were injured when Hefajat men hurled brickbats at them. They were given first aid at a local clinic.

Several people were detained over the clash, our Gazipur correspodent reports quoting the police official.

Contacted, Gazipur District Hefajat-e-Islam President Maulana Masudul Karim told our correspondent: "There has been a peaceful programme in the Boardbazar area. Those people involved in the clash with police from the Chourasta Jame Masjid could not be confirmed as our [Hefajat] activists by the mosque's imam. He [mosque imam] did not know anyone."

The Hefajat leader said nearly 15-20 people were injured in the clash but there was no programme from Hefazat in that mosque.