100 followers of 'spiritual healer' injured in police action

Treatment seekers throng the house of so-called spiritual healer Arman Quazi at Mollakanda village in Shibpur upzila of Narsingdi district a couple of days ago. Inset, Arman treats a physically challenged child. Photo: STAR

Around a hundred people were injured as police charged baton on the unruly mob who put up blockade on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway yesterday morning, protesting the local administration's order to close 'treatment' of complex diseases by a so-called spiritual healer.
Several local people claimed that patients suffering from complex diseases were cured after drinking water on which Arman Qazi of Mollakandi village under Putia union of Shibpur upazila in Narsingdi district puffed through mouth.
As the news spread to different areas, hundreds of people including men and women from Narsingdi and adjoining districts started thronging Arman Qazi's house to avail themselves of the 'treatment'.
Finding it hard to 'discipline' the increasing number of visitors, local administration on Thursday asked Arman Qazi to stop 'giving treatment'.
On Sunday several hundred treatment seekers who came to Qazi's house became aggrieved to know that the 'treatment' was stopped under pressure from the local administration.
As the agitated mob put up barricade on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway at Shashpur in Shibpur upazila, police resorted to baton charge to free the highway from the agitators.
Additional Superintendent of Police Ejaz Ahmed said, "The followers of the so-called healer put up barricade on the highway and police dispersed them."
"There is no scientific basis for using water with puff as medicine. Believing a rumour, a large number of people from different parts of the country started coming to Shibganj with the hope of getting treatment for complex diseases. We have ordered Arman Qazi to stop giving such water to people," said Shibpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Helal Uddin.