A doctor visits Manikganj municipality Mayor Ramjan Ali and his wife Afroza at a hospital after they were injured in police action yesterday during an agitation for uninterrupted gas supply. Ramjan was baton-charged, and his wife Afroza hit with rubber bullets. Photo: Star At least 25 people were injured when police charged batons and fired rubber bullets to disperse locals demonstrating for unint
errupted gas supply in the town yesterday. The demonstrators tried to lay siege to the zonal office of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited in the town. District unit President of Communist Party of Bangladesh Azharul Islam Arzu, on behalf of the demonstrators, announced a day-long hartal in Manikganj municipality area for tomorrow protesting the police action on peaceful programme. Witnesses said a procession led by town municipality Mayor Ramjan Ali was brought out from Bijoymela ground at around 10:30am, demanding uninterrupted gas supply in the area. A journalist, with his head bleeding, is being taken to hospital. Photo: Star But police intercepted the procession near the residence of Manikganj Deputy Commissioner Rashida Ferdaus in Khalpar area when they tried to march towards the local Titas gas office by force. Police fired teargas shells, rubber bullets and charged batons to disperse the processionists when they reached Manikganj Sadar Hospital gate near Dhaka-Aricha highway, leaving at least 25 people injured including Ramjan, said witnesses. Six people sustained rubber bullets and of them, Renu Akter, sister of mayor, Shahanur Islam, the district correspondent of daily Naya Diganta and Jabed Ali were taken to Manikganj Sadar Hospital. Mayor's wife Afroza Ramjan and brother Delwar Hossain were shifted to Dhaka for treatment. The agitating locals later blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for 15 minutes until 11:20am. Advertisement A tense situation was prevailing in the area following the police action. Additional law enforcers were deployed to avoid further untoward incident. Manikganj Superintendent of Police Bidhan Tripura said police members obstructed the procession to check "any untoward occurrence." At least 25 people were hurt in the incident. Photo: Star "The agitators hurled brick chips at the law enforcers that left at least 12 policemen injured," said AMM Kamrul Islam, assistant superintendent of police of Manikganj Sadar Circle. However, the mayor, yesterday evening, asked all to call off the hartal in the area, citing the delivery of the verdict of Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee today, reports our correspondent. Contacted, Azharul Islam denied it and said he (mayor) did not inform them regarding the withdrawal of hartal.
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