The gruel kitchens were opened on July 19 by a newly formed committee styled National Relief Committee to provide food to families of retrenched workers of Peoples JuteM.

The gruel kitchens were closed under pressure and threat by law enforcing agencies, coordinator of the relief committee Alamgir Kabir allged.

Police do not all assembly of more than five persons in the area though Section 144 has not been clamped, sources said.

Police did not allow assembly of more than five journalists of print and electronic media.

The sources claimed that police launched operation in Peoples Jute Mills colony from July 21 either to pick up or harass volunteers who worked for distribution of food in gruel kitchens in favour of the relief committee.

The volunteers are being threatened not to make any more attempt to distribute food among workers.

Talking to this correspondent seeking anonymity, two CBA (collective bargaining agent) leaders of Peoples Jute Mills said all volunteers of relief committee were on the run fearing police action. Even coordinator of the relief committee is also on the run, they claimed.

Officer-in-Charge of Khalishpur police station Azam Khan said that it was his duty to maintain law and order. He is acting on orders from superiors, he said.

Assembly of more than five persons in the prevailing tense situation should be restricted although Section 144 has not been clamped in Khalishpur industrial belt, OC Azam Khan said.

Acting police commissioner Raushan Ara Begum said there was nothing to be worried about intensified movement of police in the industrial belt as it is their normal routine duty.

She denied allegation of any excess by police during normal duty but expressed her determination not to allow any one to disrupt law and order.