Jatka Protection Drive
Fishermen clash with navy personnel, 4 injured
Fellows take to hospital one of the four fishermen, injured during yesterday's clash with a navy team conducting a jatka (hilsa fry) protection drive at Gazaria channel of Meghna River in Mehendiganj upazila under Barisal district.Photo: STAR
Fishermen clashed with a navy team that conducted a jatka (hilsa fry) protection drive on Gazaria channel of the Meghna under Mehendiganj upazila yesterday noon. The navy men fired blank shots and charged batons on the fishermen, leaving four of them injured. The team also seized current nets worth Tk 10 lakh from the fishermen. The injured fishermen are Abdur Rahim, 42, Roman, 22, Jamal, 17, Rafiq, 26. Contacted, officer-in-charge of Mehendiganj Police Station said a 12-member team of Bangladesh Navy led by Lt Iftekhar was patrolling different areas of the Meghna River in an engine boat as part of 'Jatka Nidhan Nirodh' operation. At around 12:00 noon, they saw a large number of fishermen were engaged in fishing on the Gazaria channel of the Meghna near Chunnu Miar Ghat (terminal) under Ulania union of Mehendiganj upazila. As the naval team raided seized current nets from the fishermen, they protested their (navy personnel) act and demanded alternative employment. A one stage of altercation between the two sides, about 200 fishermen and locals swooped on navy men who charged batons and fired three rounds of blank shots to disburse the mob. Contacted, Mehendiganj OC said the naval commander informed the matter to police and left the area without lodging any case.
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