BCL goes on rampage in town: 6 JCD men held

Chhatra League men ransack the office of district BNP and set fire to a motorbike in front of the office during their clashes with Chhatra Dal activists in Thakurgaon town Wednesday night.Photo: STAR

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists on Wednesday night attacked BNP office, ransacked some business establishments and set fire to a motorbike following an attack on them by JCD men in the afternoon.
Police and witnesses said the JCD attack was a sequel to an incident occurred at Thakurgaon Government College where JCD activist Mohsin was assaulted by BCL activists in the morning.
Mohsin went to the college to take back his mobile set that was taken away by BCL activist Ashik and his associates at Collegepara in the town on Tuesday. At one stage of altercation, Ashik and his party colleagues beat him up.
Ashik and his associates took away Mohsin's mobile set as he along with his girlfriend went to Collegepara on Tuesday evening. Ashik stalked Mohsin's girlfriend and also hurled abuse at him.
In retaliation for the attack on Mohsin on the college campus, JCD activists equipped with sharp weapons swooped on BCL activists with sharp weapons at Thakurgaon football ground at around 4:00pm on Wednesday, leaving 10 people injured.
Of the injured, BCL men Shohag, 25, Murad, 18, Minhaz, 22, Rony, 22, Milon, 22, and Kayes, 22, were admitted to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital while the rest given first aid.
Protesting the attack, BCL held a protest meeting at Thakurgaon Intersection at around 8:00pm and then went to District Awami League office. At around 10:00pm, the BCL men attacked the district BNP office, damaged the portraits of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman and ransacked some business establishments belonging to BNP men.
JCD and BNP men also launched a counter-attack, leading to a clash. Police fired at least 40 tear gas shell and rubber bullets to disperse the clashing groups and bought the situation under control at around 11:30pm.
Later, they raided Fakirpara and Hajipara areas in the town and arrested six JCD activists.