50 hurt as villagers clash with police
Krishak League leader held 'on order from higher authorities', released
Our Correspondent, Kushtia
At least 50 people including some women and children were injured in clashes with police at Gotria village in Kumarkahli upazila on Monday. Police damaged about 45 houses during the clash, villagers alleged. The incident centred arrest of Kumarkahli upazila Krishak League (KL) General Secretary Ibrahim Hossain. KL is peasant front of opposition Awami League. Police however released Ibrahim Hossain and five others including two women taken into custody during the clashes. Ibrahim was treated at Kushtia General Hospital for injuries he suffered from police beating, his family said. Most of the male persons are now fleeing homes fearing arrest, local people told this correspondent during a visit yesterday. According to villagers, a police team from Kumarkahli thana led by OC Selim Ahmed went to the village and arrested Ibrahim Hossain, allegedly without any charge, on Sunday at about 2 pm. Police released him about two hours later but took him into custody again at about 6 pm. The villagers alleged that police took him to the Bangabandhu Club premises at Kaya and beat him in presence of people. At one stage, some villagers came forward and asked police why they were beating him. As police asked the people to leave, they resisted the men in uniform and forced them to release Ibrahim. Next day (Monday), police again went to the village and caught Ibrahim allegedly without any charge. As villagers resisted police, a clash ensued. Seven of the injured have been admitted to the local upazila health complex. They are Ibrahim's 80 year-old mother Sabejan Necha, Monir 10, Sabbir 11, Akkas 10, Noorjahan 25, Hasina Khatun, Samim, 32, Rahman, 45 and Ziarul, 29. The five held by police but released later are Abu Bakar, Matiur Rahman, Saidul Islam, Rubi Khatun and Nazma Khatun. The villagers also alleged that police ransacked the Bangabandhu Club and tore down the photo of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Quoting police, Ibrahim's family told this correspondent that he was held on orders from higher authorities. When contacted yesterday, OC Selim told this correspondent that Ibrahim was arrested on orders from higher authorities. He said the clash ensued when the villagers resister the police action. Police have filed a case accusing 100 people of the village. Local Awami League condemned the police action on innocent villagers.
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