0ver 100 hurt as cops clash with workers

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Over 100 people including 17 policemen and four journalists were injured in a series of clashes between transport workers and police in Rajshahi Bus Terminal area yesterday.
The policemen fired 100 shots and lobbed 71 teargas shells to disperse the transport workers after they torched a police motorcycle and damaged three other vehicles.

The angry cops also damaged some 50 buses and 25 shops and beat up the transport workers, pedestrians and journalists during the three-hour rampage, witnesses said.

Rajshahi Motor Sramik Union and Rajshahi Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association called an indefinite transport strike in Rajshahi from today protesting the police atrocities.

The clashes erupted after a bus driver assaulted a policeman while checking a bus at Kasiadanga on the outskirts of the city.

The police at around 3:00pm stopped the bus coming from Chapainawabganj but the driver told them not to waste time. The driver argued that they were carrying a patient in the bus and some passengers were to catch an intercity train.

At one stage of the quarrel, the driver, Abdur Razaak, slapped a policeman. The police then detained him along with his helper Milon and beat them up mercilessly.

As the news spread in the city, angry transport workers from Rajshahi Bus Terminal attacked a nearby police outpost at around 5:00pm. They beat up several policemen and set ablaze a motorcycle of sergeant Shahin in front of the outpost.

Later, additional contingent of police reached the spot and fired shots to disperse the transport workers pelting stones at the law enforcers. They also damaged buses and roadside shops.

Police said they have brought the situation under control. But a tense situation was prevailing in the bus terminal and adjacent areas when this report was being filed at 8.45pm.

Bus Owner Association Joint Secretary Nazrul Islam Helal said they have already began a transport strike and it would continue till the responsible policemen were punished.

Critically injured driver and helper of the bus and restaurant owner Murad were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). Twelve policemen were admitted to Rajshahi Police Lines Hospital and five others at the RMCH.

The injured include Sub-Inspector SM Zaman, ASI Abdul Gani, Sergeant Akram, Havildar Yad Ali, constables Shakhawat, Proshanta, Waliul, Rezwan, Mahbub, Nahid, Farhad, Kalam, Selim Reza, Harunur Rashid, Mamun, Shamim, Sariful and police driver Alamgir.

The injured journalists are Azhar Uddin of the daily Prothom Alo, Shamsur Rahman Rumi of the daily Arthoniti, Abul Kalam Azad of the daily Samachar, and photojournalist Shahidul Islam Dukhu of Natun Probhat.

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