Jamaat-Shibir men clash with police, 32 injured

Armed men of Islami Chhatra Shibir chase policemen at Binodpur in Rajshahi city, and right, vandalise a police van in Dinajpur town, as the activists of Shibir and their parent organisation Jamaat-e-Islami went on the rampage, especially targeting the law enforcers at different places of the country yesterday, demanding release of the Jamaat leaders who are undergoing trial on charges of involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. Photo: STAR

Jamaat-Shibir activists yesterday clashed with law enforcers in different districts, leaving at least 32 people, including 19 cops, injured, report our correspondents.
Chittagong: Two people received bullet wounds while four policemen serious injuries during a clash between Jamaat-Shibir activists and law enforcers at Banshkhali.
The bullet-hit people are auto-rickshaw driver Nurul Huda and Abdul Momen of Paschim Chambal of Banshkhali. Nurul Huda was admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) with wound in the head while Abdul Momen to Chittagong Medical College Hospital with injury in the abdomen.
The seriously injured Sub-Inspector Md Ataul, and three constables--Md Quader, Ahabul and Kashem--were rushed to the CMCH, said Sub-Inspector Md Zahir of Bashkhali Police Station.
The trouble began at noon as police asked the Jamaat-Shibir activists not to fasten a banner to a wall at Bashkhali, demanding release of Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Saidee who faces trial on charges of committing crimes against humanity during Liberation War in 1971. At least 10 policemen and eight civilians were injured during the clash.
Besides, two constables of Chittagong Kotwali Police Station--Md Jamal and Masud Karim--received minor injuries as Shibir activists hurled brick chips at a police van in the port city.
Sub-Inspector Anwar Hossain of Kotwali Police Station said the two cops were injured when Shibir men hurled brick chips at a police van from a procession in the BRTC area.
AKM Mohiuddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station, said none was arrested in connection with the incident.
Dinajpur: Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Mamun of Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station was seriously injured as Jamaat-Shibir men beat him up in the morning.
Our correspondent quoted Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Kader Zilani as saying that the Jamaat-Shibir also vandalised two police vans during the attack.
Jamaat and Shibir activists brought out a procession from imtola intersection in the town at around 10:10am demanding release of their leaders.
As police intercepted the procession near Bhutibabu intersection, the Jamaat-Shibir activists swooped on the cops with bamboo and wooden sticks, the OC said.
During the attack, SI Mamun took shelter inside a roadside shop. Shibir activists entered the shop and beat him up. Later, locals and police rescued Mamun and took him to Dinajpur Medical College and Hospital.
Rajshahi: Shibir cadres clashed with law enforcers in Binodpur area of the city in the morning, leaving three policemen injured.
The clash ensued at around 9:30am when around 40 to 50 Shibir men, equipped with pipes, pipe guns, hammers, rods, petrol bombs and cocktails, took out a procession in the area demanding release of Jamaat leaders and swooped on the on-duty policemen there .
They hurled at least 10 cocktails and five petrol bombs, targeting the police. The law enforcers fired over 50 tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the attackers, said Shah Golam Mahmud, deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (east zone).
After a few minutes, Shibir activists showed up again in the area and exploded petrol bombs, said SM Abdus Sobhan, officer-in-charge of Motihar Police Station.
Traffic on the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway disrupted during the clash. Police took control of the area at 11:00am. Police picked up five people from the nearby areas after the clash.
In the evening, Shibir men locked in a clash with police in front of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH), leaving five people injured.
Witnesses and police said Shibir men brought out a procession at Laxmipur intersection at around 5:00pm. As police intercepted the procession, they went away. Minutes later, several hundred Jamaat-Shibir activists took out a sudden procession from RMCH main gate, damaged vehicles and blasted cocktails.
Satkhira: Seven policemen were injured during a clash with Jamaat-Shibir activists in Satkhira in the afternoon.
They also vandalised a police van near Sundarban Textile Mills in the town.
Police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the Jamaat-Shibir men and picked up two Shibir activists from there.
Joypurhat: Police arrested two Shibir activists from Amtoli intersection in the town while Shibir men were staging a demonstration and setting fire to tires in the morning.
The arrestees are Kutbul Alam 24 and Wahiduzzaman 22. They hail from Kalai upazila of the district.