Tangail clash instigated

A fourth victim of Friday's "police firing" on locals in Tangail died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday.

Md Rubel, 19, succumbed to his head injuries around 7: 00pm, Mozammel Haque, camp in-charge of DMCH police outpost told The Daily Star last night.

Earlier on Friday, three people died after being shot by police during a protest in Kalihati upazila of Tangail, locals said.

Police initially dismissed that the three died in their shooting but autopsy reports confirmed all of them succumbed to bullet injuries.

Meanwhile, most men of at least 14 villages under Kalihati and Ghatail upazilas went into hiding to avoid arrest after police filed two cases against 900 unidentified villagers over the incident. 

In another development, Acting Inspector General of Police Mokhlesur Rahman yesterday claimed Friday's demonstration was "instigated by a vested quarter" and that the police action was in line with the law.

He, however, did not say who "instigated" the locals.

"Sometimes a mob can go outrageous. Law makes it clear what action should be taken in such a situation. It [the law] was followed," he told reporters.

His comments came a day after the authorities withdrew seven cops in connection with the incident.

Hundreds of locals took to the streets on Friday afternoon protesting a brutal assault of a mother and her son. A clash erupted when police intercepted the demonstration. At least 32 people, including three cops, were injured.

The protest came following Rafiqul Islam Roma of Saturia village in Ghatail with the help of his cohorts abused and beat the woman and her son, as the boy allegedly developed an affair with Roma's wife.

Faruk Hossain, father of victim Rubel, told reporters that his son was a small trader. He was hit in the head during the protest.

THE POLICE CASE

On Saturday, police filed two cases against 900 unnamed villagers on charges of assaulting cops and obstructing them from doing their duties.

Police also brought murder charges against the villagers, saying that the deceased were injured in firing during chase and counter chase between villagers.

The cases created fresh tension in the area, Abdus Sattar, chairman of Digor Union in Ghatail, told our Tangail Correspondent.

"Almost all men in the villages are hiding to avoid arrest," he added.

Harun-or-Rashid of Ghuni Salenka in Kalihati upazila said he left the village after he saw police patrolling near his house.

Many other men have gone into hiding, he added.

'INSTIGATION'

The acting IGP said following the torture of the woman and her son on Wednesday, police arrested some accused on the same day.

But locals took to the street and barred vehicular movement, creating public sufferings on Friday, two days after the incident.

"It [the public protest] was nothing but an act of instigation," he said, replying to a question at a press briefing at the police headquarters.

Locals, however, said they had demonstrated also on Thursday from where they announced Friday's protest.

The acting IGP described the whole incident as unfortunate and unexpected.

He said they did not want anyone to die while discharging their duties.

There are allegations that police were not arresting a man who allegedly tortured the woman because Shaidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kalihati Police Station, was a tenant in the man's house.

Asked about this, the acting IGP said they were probing the whole incident.

He added that the Police Headquarters formed a probe committee and the OC would face action if found guilty.