Mosque cordoned off to arrest armed cadres of Jamaat, Shibir

KHULNA, Jan 22: Over two hundred riot police have cordoned off Tarer Pukur Jame Mosque to arrest over one hundred armed cadres and activists of Jamaat and Islami Chhatra Shibir.

A high official of the KMP said that all the activists in the mosque would be arrested at any cost for launching attack on policemen during a procession this evening.

Two policemen, including SI Abdur Rashid, were severely injured in the attack.

The confined people include former MP Shah Mohammad Ruhul Quddus and top ranking leaders of city Jamaat and Shibir.

According to police and witnesses, police fired 13 rounds of blank shots and tear gas shells to disperse the Jamaat Shibir procesionists when they hurled bombs targeting police vans near the residence of city AL president Manzurul Imam on Shamsur Rahman Road.

One of the bombs directly hit a police van injuring SI Abdur Rashid and a constable of Khulna thana seriously. They were admitted to hospital.

Few minutes later, both police and Jamaat-Shibir activists were locked in fierce clash at Shantidhsm square. During the clash over one hundred activists took shelter at the mosque at the time of Magrib prayers.

Police soon cordoned off the mosque confining the Jamaat-Shibir activists there.

The mosque remained besieged by riot police led by the DC (South) Mazharul Islam till filing of this report till 8 pm today.

Devotees who were saying Magrib prayers were not also allowed to come out of the mosque and none was allowed to go there also for saying 'Esha' prayers.

The local offices of Jamaat and Shibir have also been kept under surveillance apprehending counter attack on police.

A high official of KMP hinted to swing into action after failing to convince the besieged Jamaat and Shibir activists to surrender.