RU sees flexing of muscles

POWER ON SHOW: A photo collage presents, Rajshahi University unit Chhatra League members carrying weapons patrol the campus following a clash with Jubo League yesterday. And, like every campus clash, police presence hardly bothers the activists.Photo: STAR

Brandishing firearms and sharp weapons, scores of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists chased a group of Jubo League (JL) men on Rajshahi University campus yesterday over a trivial matter.
The incident was followed by a series of skirmishes involving BCL activists and JL men.
The trouble began as JL activists Ilias and Hossain of Meherchandi area injured RU unit BCL activist Mohiuddin by bumping their bike into him around 12:30pm at Station Bazar near the campus.
As Mohiuddin and some BCL men protested the incident, a group of JL men along with some locals of Station Bazar allegedly led by JL Ward-30 unit general secretary Towhidul Islam Kalu beat them up leaving four BCL men, Abdul Halim, Basudev Karmakar, Mamun Ahmed and Mohiuddin, injured.
Hearing the news, hundreds of armed BCL men rushed to the spot and chased the JL men. The JL men with hundred others and locals of Meherchandi area with sticks then made a counter chase on the BCL men and took position at Station Bazar.
None, however, was injured during the chase and counter chase, sources said.
On information, the university proctorial body, local Awami League leaders and law enforcers rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Later, several hundred BCL leaders and activists staged demonstrations with arms and held a protest rally in front of Madar Bux Hall at around 2:00pm.
At the rally, RU unit BCL president Awal Kabir Joy gave three hours' ultimatum to the law enforces demanding punishment of the Juba League cadres.
RU Proctor Prof Chowdhury Zakaria asked the law enforcers to take steps against outsiders on the campus.
Abul Khair, officer-in-charge of Motihar Police Station, said they would take action against those responsible for the incident after investigating the matter.