Enforcing Lockdown: Cops, magistrate attacked in Ctg, Noakhali

An executive magistrate and a police team working to enforce the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown came under attack by locals in two incidents in Noakhali and Chattogram.

The magistrate's vehicle was vandalised while two policemen, including a sub-inspector, were injured in the incidents.

Police and witnesses said a makeshift cattle market was set up in Nabagram Chiringa Bazar area of Noakhali's Kabirhat upazila yesterday defying the lockdown.

On information, district administration's executive magistrate Debobrato Das along with some policemen raided the area around 3:00pm.

Seeing them, locals and cattle traders became agitated and hurled brickbats at the magistrate's vehicle. They also vandalised it. However, magistrate managed to escape the attack.

Later, Kabirhat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Hasina Akhter rushed to the spot along with additional police members and brought the situation under control.

A case was being filed against those involved in the attack, the UNO told The Daily Star last night.

Asked, Abdul Mannan, president of the local Chiringa Bazar committee, said the incident happened due to a misunderstanding between the cattle traders and the magistrate.

In the other incident in Chattogram, a police team went to Puler Gora Lane area around 8:30pm on Saturday to enforce lockdown.

All of a sudden, locals became agitated and started throwing brick chips targeting the police, leaving two policemen including a sub-inspector injured. A CNG-run auto-rickshaw was also vadalised.

On information, additional policemen rushed to the spot, brought the situation under control and rescued the injured, said Rajesh Barua, inspector (investigation) of Chandgaon Police Station.

Later, a case was filed in this connection and at least 15 people were detained, he added.

[Our correspondents from Noakhali and Chattogram contributed to the report]