12 hurt as police swing into action, 9 arrested

Police intercept as BNP activists try to bring out a procession at Chowrangi intersection in Panchagarh town yesterday protesting arrest and alleged torture on Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and other BNP leaders.Photo: STAR

Police charged batons on BNP procession at Chowrangi intersection in front of their party office in Panchagarh town yesterday.
Twelve people were injured while police picked up nine BNP men during the incident.
Witnesses and party sources said about 100 local leaders and activists brought out a procession from their party office protesting arrest and repression on Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and other BNP leaders at about 11:30am.
Police intercepted the procession near the party office and asked them to return to their compound.
As the BNP men tried to continue the procession, police charged batons on them leaving 12 people injured. Police also hurled several tear gas shells to disperse the procession.
During the chase and counter chase between police and BNP men, shops and business establishments pulled their shutters down while vehicular movements came to a halt for an hour.
Later police arrested injured organising secretary of district unit BNP Jahirul Islam, convener of district unit Chhatra Dal Mohammad Nuruzzaman, general secretary of district unit of JASAS Yunus Sheikh, Jubo Dal leaders Shohel Rana and municipality leaders of Chhatra Dal Harun, Md Nazrul Islam, Shabul and Dablu from Panchagarh Sadar Hospital while taking treatment there.
When contacted, former lawmaker and president of district unit BNP Mozahar Hossain told this correspondent that police attacked the BNP activists without any provocation. He protested such 'undemocratic attitude'of the government and demanded immediate release of the arrested leaders and activists of the party.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shahabuddin said that police only did everything in their defence as the BNP men attacked them.