Locals attack police camp to protest arrest of traders

Local people attacked a police camp in Hatiya upazila on Monday night protesting arrest of three traders.
Locals said, police at Janata Bazar camp detained three traders -- Deen Mohammad, Belayet Hossain and Mohammad Siddique -- of the market at about 9:00pm allegedly as they conducted an election of the market committee without consulting the policemen.
As the news spread, local traders aided by others of the area attacked the police camp.
They threw brickbats, leaving three policemen injured.
The attack prompted police to retaliate. They fired 35 gunshots to disperse the protesters which left nine people injured.
Locals said at least 20 people, including police, pedestrians and protesters were hurt during the incident.
Janata Bazaar police camp in-charge SI Anobik Chakma told UNB that the three traders held a secret meeting with local robbers on Monday noon in a bid to take control of the business at Janata Bazaar and cropland at Char Bashar, a remote area of the upazila.
He alleged that the traders were also supporters of the ring leader of notorious Nizam Bahini.
Local traders, however, refuted the allegation, saying that police arrested the traders and tortured them on false allegation.
Shops and business establishments in the bazar remained shut since Monday night in fear of reprisal and arrests.
Locals told this correspondent yesterday that the policemen at the camp used to take away rice and fishes from the traders for free. They torture the traders when they try to protest it.