Over 100 shops, vehicles vandalized; 40 Shibir men held
Unruly activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir on Sunday vandalized over 50 shops and nearly 50 vehicles in Halisahar Barapool area of the port city after police obstructed them from holding a protest rally.(UNB, Chittagong)
At least 25 people including two cops were injured as the Shibir men clashed with police. Forty Shibir activists were detained by police from the spot but their identity could not be immediately known.
Sub Inspector of Halishahar police station Zakir admitted that they have detained 40 Shibir activists but would not identify them.
Locals said the clash occurred when police tried to foil a protest rally at Halishahar Barapool at about 4:30pm. The Shibir activists gathered there as part of a centrally announced demonstration programme in protest against the arrest of three top Jamaat leaders.
Angered by police obstruction, Shibir activists pelted brickbats leaving two police wounded.
Police retaliated with lathi leaving 23 Shibirites injured.
As the situation turned worst, police fired five rounds of blank shots to disperse the agitators.
The demonstrators took shelter into a nearby shopping mall - Singapore Bangkok Market - and vandalizing at least 50 shops.
Police picked up 40 Shibir activists, 27 from the market and 13 from nearby areas.
Additional police from Halishahar and Doublemooring police stations have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble amid a tense situation.
A report from Barisal said, at least 11 people including three journalists were injured as Jamaat men were locked in a clash with police in the town in the afternoon.
Police detained 13 Jamaat men from the spot during the clash at Steamer ghat at about 3-35 pm.
Sub-inspector Shahabuddin, in-charge of Bogura Road outpost was closed to the Police Lines ostensibly for his failure to prevent the demonstrators taking to the street.
