Manikganj cops foil bid to lay siege to Titas gas office, 25 hurt

Police charge truncheons, fire teargas canisters on people who try to lay siege to Titas gas office in Manikganj town Tuesday morning. Photo: Star

At least 25 people were injured including six with rubber bullets when police charged batons and fired shots to disperse locals trying to lay siege to Titas gas office in Manikganj town demanding uninterrupted supply.

District unit President of Communist party Azharul Islam Arzu, on behalf of the demonstrators, announced a daylong hartal (shutdown) in Manikganj municipality area for tomorrow protesting the police action, reports our Manikganj correspondent.

At least 12 policemen were injured by the brick chips hurled at the law enforcers, said M Kamrul Islam, assistant superintendent of police (Sadar) in Manikganj.

Town municipality Mayor Ramjan Ali led a procession of local residents from Bijoymela field area around 10:30am demanding uninterrupted gas supply in the area.

They complained of a shortage in gas throughout town and alleged that Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited could not provide them with adequate supply for the past two years.

Manikganj people bring out a procession Tuesday morning demanding smooth gas supply in their households in the town. Photo: Star

But police intercepted the procession near the residence of Manikganj Deputy Commissioner Rashida Ferdaus in Khalpar area when they tried to march on towards the local Titas gas office forcefully.

Police fired teargas, rubber bullets and charged batons to scatter the crowd, leaving at least 25 people injured including Shahanur Islam, the district correspondent of daily Naya Diganta.

Of the rubber-bullet injured, Afroza Ramjan, wife of the mayor, was taken to the Manikganj Sadar Hospital while his brother, Delwar, was shifted to Dhaka for treatment.

The agitated locals later blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for some times that halted vehicular movement until 11:20am.

A tense situation was prevailing in the area following the police action. Additional law enforcers were deployed to avoid further untoward situation.