BCL men clash at RU over iftar: 1 hurt

An activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League at Rajshahi University was injured critically as supporters of another BCL faction beat him up following a row over distribution of iftar token on the occasion of National Mourning Day yesterday.
Injured Nasirullah Nasim, a fourth year student of History Department of RU and a resident of Shah Makhdoom Hall, was sent to Dhaka in a critical condition as the doctors of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) referred him after giving primary aid.
The incident happened at about 12:15pm following a dispute over distribution of Iftar token among the students of the Shah Makhdoom Hall on the occasion of National Mourning Day, sources said.
BCL activists Zahurul Islam, Zahidul Islam, Toufikul Islam and Lutfar Rahman, all loyal to BCL RU unit president Awal Kabir Joy swooped on Nasim, also an activist of BCL RU unit general secretary Mazedul Islam Opu group, and beat him up indiscriminately.
Later the attackers pushed him down from the first floor of the dormitory, leaving him critically injured. Nasim received injuries to his head, leg and chest, witnesses said.
Tomas, who recently came to visit his elder brother Nasim from his village home in Chapainawabganj, told the correspondent, "The cadres severely beat my brother in front of his room with iron rods and hockey sticks."
"When I came out of the room, the cadres pushed my brother down from the first floor of the dormitory before my eyes," said Tomas, also a student of class seven, bursting into tears.
Resident students of the hall rushed Nasim to the RMCH in an unconscious state.
Following the incident, followers of both factions took position in and around the hall with arms.
RU proctorial body, provost of the hall and law enforcers rushed to the hall and brought the situation under control.
Later around 2:30pm, the hall authorities along with law enforcers conducted raids at the BCL controlled rooms that continued till 4:00pm.
During the raid, police arrested Saidur Rahman and Ruhul Amin, both of them are students of Political Science Department and followers of Awal Kabir Joy, for their alleged involvement with the attack on Nasim, sources said.
Awal Kabir Joy said the people who made the attack on Nasim were not at all his followers.
RU unit BCL secretary Mazedul Islam Opu was not available as he was in jail following the factional violence on August 8 at RU that left 10 injured.
Prof Dulal Chandra Ray, provost of Shah Makhdoom Hall, said that they would take stern action against the BCL men involved in the incident.
RU proctor Prof Chowdhury Muhammad Zakaria told the correspondent that he urged the law enforcers to take legal steps in this regard.
Abul Khair, officer-in-charge of Motihar Police Station, said they would take legal steps against the arrestees after primary investigation.
"We will conduct drives to arrest the attackers of Nasim," the OC added.
Meanwhile, Md Munna, an activist of Opu group, filed a case with Motihar Police Station accusing 12 activists of Joy group of carrying out the attack.
The accused include Jahidur Rahman, a masters student of Social Work Department, Zohurul Islam of Public Administration Department, Lutfor Rahman of Zoology Department, Towfiqur Rahman of Bangla Department.
A tense situation was prevailing on the campus. Additional police forces have been deployed to avert any untoward incident.