Sixty people injured during eviction in Chittagong, 1st Ld

At least 60 people, including 10 women and 10 policemen, were injured in a clash between locals and law enforcers during an eviction drive at Laldia Char, adjacent to the Chittagong Port Tuesday.

bdnews24.com
Published : 11 July 2005, 12:00 PM
Updated : 11 July 2005, 12:00 PM
Advisory: Six arrested, two cases filed. Laldia Char not Laldighi Char
Chittagong, July 12 (BDNEWS) – At least 60 people, including 10 women and 10 policemen, were injured in a clash between locals and law enforcers during an eviction drive at Laldia Char, adjacent to the Chittagong Port Tuesday.
During the clash, agitated mob damaged and torched eight vehicles, including the car of a magistrate. Police arrested six locals from the spot and filed two cases.
Of the seriously injured, sub-inspector Mohammad Ilias was admitted to the Dampara Police Line Hospital and two unidentified locals were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
Police fired 80 rounds of rubber bullets and lobbed 20 tear gas canisters to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control.
Patenga thana officer-in-charge (OC) Mahbub Ali said: The situation is under control.
Earlier, the Port authorities had filed a case to evict the residents of Laldia Char situated between the New and Old Airports. The residents filed a writ petition in the High Court in 2003 challenging the authorities.
However, the High Court judgment delivered on July 7 went in favour of the Port authorities and it gave a directive to evict the residents from that area.
Some 250 police led by magistrate Mohammad Munir Chowdhury began eviction drive Tuesday morning triggering the violent clash between the residents and the police.
Witnesses said, the agitated people locked in the clash equipped with sticks, spears and other sharp weapons. They also put barricade on the roads by laying trees. At one stage, the agitated mob set fire on a vehicle of PDB, which came to snap electricity connection. The bulldozer engaged in the eviction drive was also thrown into the nearby river.
It was known that people of Laldhia Char area have been living there since 60s. The disputed area covers 86 acres of land. The Port authorities claimed that the land belongs to them.
People from 23 acres of land were evicted Tuesday. As a result, about six thousand people are now living under the open sky on the bank of the river Karnaphuli.
BDNEWS/2026 hrs

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