Raid on Jatra Sparks Protest
Villagers beat up five cops in Kishoreganj
Five policemen including a sub-inspector (SI) were injured in a clash between the law enforcers and locals at Aralia village in Itna upazila yesterday.
The injured policemen sub-inspector of Itna police station Saiful Islam and constables Salimur Rahman, Rafiq Mia, Akbar Mia and Mainuddin were admitted to the local upazila health complex.
Earlier, acting on a tip-off, a team of Itna police raided Aralia village where obscene dances and gambling were being held in the name of jatra (opera) at night.
Soon after the team reached there, the law enforcers fired in the air to disperse a huge crowd, who were enjoying the jatra.
Hearing gunshots, the villagers attacked the police team triggering a clash at about 2:00am.
At one stage, the villagers beat up the policemen indiscriminately leaving five of them injured.
Police also fired several rounds of blank fire to disperse the attackers.
The angry attackers also snatched two rifles from them. Later, police recovered the rifles from behind the school in an abandoned condition.
Additional police have been sent to the spot early in the morning to maintain law and order.
No cases were filed till yesterday afternoon, Kazi Abul Hashem, officer-in-charge of Itna police station, said adding, no one was arrested as most of the male people have gone into hiding following the incident.
Mir Rezaul Alam, Kishoreganj Superintendent of Police, said those who arranged the obscene dance and gambling in the name of cultural programme will be brought to book soon.
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