Nilphamari rally demands release of 'innocent' people

Speakers at a meeting at Darwani Market in Nilphamari Sadar upazila on Monday night demanded immediate release of 'innocent' people arrested from the market and surrounding villages following a police case centring violent protest after a street accident on 14 January.
Eleven policemen and 50 others were injured as agitated mob engaged in a clash with police after the accident that killed a betel leaf trader of Darwani market.
Adult males, mostly the Boro farmers in the area, have gone into hiding in the peak Boro cultivation season as police indiscriminately arrested innocent local people after filing a case accusing 200-250 unidentified people, speakers said in the meeting.
On Saturday night, police raided several villages around Darwani market in Sadar upazila and arrested 18 people.
Thirteen of the arrestees were sent to Nilphamari jail while five others taken on remand.
They were accused of rioting, resisting government employees to carry out official duty and causing serious injury to them, said police.
Vice-chairman of Nilphamari Sadar upazila Shahed Mahmud, Nilphamari Municipality Mayor Dewan Kamal Ahmed, district Awami League Secretary Momtajul Islam spoke in the meeting.