AL men attack fishermen for control of canal
At least 12 fishermen were injured as ruling party men attacked them in a bid to take possession of Baintala canal at Rotonpur union of Kaliganj upazila here on Thursday night.
Of the injured, Shankar Mondal, Haran Mondal, Sadhu Charan Mondal, Arun Mondal, Babu Lal Dhamua, Khokon Mondal were admitted to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex, police sources said.
Quoting local people police said the injured fishermen of Chunakhali Matsyajibi Samabaya Samity took lease of the canal from the government last year and have been cultivating fish in it since then.
Shankar Mondal, one of the injured, alleged that Kaliganj upazila Awami League organising secretary Sheikh Riaz Uddin in connivance with upazila Jubo League general secretary and upazila vice-chairman Syeed Mehedi, and Rotonpur union AL president Shahidul Islam were trying to take possession of the canal from last year.
On Thursday, local AL and Jubo League cadres led by Sheikh Riaz Uddin, Syeed Mehedi and Shahidul Islam attacked the fishermen at about 7:30 pm in a bid to grab the canal, he said.
They also looted fish worth Tk 20,000 from the canal, he alleged.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Khokon Mondal, another injured, said that he tried to lodge a complaint with Kaliganj thana accusing Sheikh Riaz Uddin of masterminding the attack but police did not record the case against him as he is a ruling party activist.
Contacted, upazila vice-chairman Syed Mehedi denied the allegation.
Syed Fariduddin, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj thana, confirmed the attack and said that action will be taken after an investigation.
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