10 injured as students, Ansar members clash

At least 10 people were injured as an excursion team of a school and Ansar members at Pabna Mental Hospital clashed on Saturday.
Md Monsur Ali, headmaster of Shahid Dulal Pilot Girls' School in Sujanagar upazila, said over a hundred teachers, students and guardians made a stoppage at the hospital in the afternoon on their way to Pakshey.
An altercation took place as the on-duty Ansar members denied entry to the visitors.
At one stage, a few Ansar men beat up the team members, leaving over seven injured. Of them, an office assistant of the school was admitted to Pabna Medical College while the rest were given first aid, said the headmaster.
Refuting the allegation, Md Abu Bakar Siddiki, platoon commander of the Ansar camp, said the visitors were trying to enter the hospital forcibly after the visiting hour.
“The students and teachers attacked us and left three injured when we barred them”, he said.
Contacted, Dr Dipak Kumar, deputy director of the hospital, said the authorities were investigating the matter.
The school administration and the Ansar officials lodged separate complaints with Pabna Sadar police station in this regard.
Meanwhile, District Ansar commander Md Delwar Hossain said yesterday that the authorities closed four Ansar members over the issue.
Delwar also claimed that they have already settled the matter with the school authorities.