Relatives clash with cops in Bhola, 10 injured

At least 10 people, including two policemen, were injured in a clash between police and relatives of five arrestees near Sadar Road under Charfashion Municipality yesterday morning.

Police and locals said police raided South Fashion village at around 1:00am and arrested Abul Kashem Batan, joint-secretary of upazila unit of Sramik League, his brothers-in-law Faruk and Sayeed, and nephews Manju Batan and Sharif from there on charges of extortion, land-grabbing and other criminal actvities.

The clash ensued when 30-35 people, led by Kashem Batan's brother Abu Kajal Batan, also Zinnahgar UP member (Ward No. 3), attacked police with sticks and brick chips in a bid to snatch the accused at around 6:30 am. They blocked Bhola-Charfashion road in Sadar Road and Thatna Road area with logs and burning tires.

They also tried to attack the police station, according to Abul Bashar, officer-in-charge of Charfashion Police Station.

Being informed, police teams from South Aicha, Shashibhushan Police Station and riot police from Bhola reached there, baton charged the attackers and brought the situation under control at around 9:00 am.

Riot police and Rab are patrolling the area, said Mahafuzur Rahaman, ASP (Lalmohan Circle) of Bhola.

Of the injured, Abu Kajal was sent to Bhola Sadar Hospital and the rest to Charfashion Upazila Health Complex. Ripon Kumar and Arif Billah, the two injured policemen, were also admitted to the hospital.