BCL men go on the rampage

Patuakhali Polytechnic Institute (PPI) authorities yesterday closed the institution for seven days and its dormitories for an indefinite period after the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League went on the rampage on the campus Thursday night, demanding release of its two leaders from police custody.
During the violence, the BCL men vandalised doors and windows of the academic building, set fire to furniture and exploded at least 25 hand-made bombs.
Witnesses said two factions of the student body's PPI unit, led by its president Rakib Khan and general secretary Russell, got involved in a clash around noon on Thursday over establishing supremacy on the campus in the town's Sobujbagh area. At least four BCL men were injured in the clash.
In the afternoon, police detained the two BCL leaders over the clash.
Incensed at the detention, both the BCL factions brought out processions on the campus. Around 12:30am yesterday, the demonstration turned violent.
Reaching the campus around 1:45am, police asked the BCL men to stop damaging the institution's properties, but to no avail.
The law enforcers then fired rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.
Later police raided the two dormitories of the polytechnic and recovered sharp weapons and two bullets. They also arrested 15 BCL men from the campus, said Abu Bakar Siddique, additional police super of Patuakhali.
The polytechnic authorities at an emergency meeting yesterday morning formed a five-member committee to probe the incident, Mohammad Jahirul Islam, acting principal of the PPI, told The Daily Star.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within seven days.
Police yesterday sent the two BCL leaders to jail after producing them before a local court. The two have been shown arrested under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code. A case will be filed in this connection, mentioned Abu Bakar.