Rupganj protester dies

A victim of the Rupganj clash between locals and law enforcers has died of his injuries.

bdnews24.com
Published : 24 Oct 2010, 04:01 AM
Updated : 24 Oct 2010, 04:01 AM
Dhaka, Oct 24 (bdnews24.com)—A victim of the Rupganj clash between locals and law enforcers has died of his injuries.
Mostofa Jamal, 26, died around 9am on Sunday. He sustained critical bullet wounds during the clash on Saturday. According Saturday's reports, 10 people were admitted in hospital with bullet injuries.
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police sub-inspector (SI) Abdul Bari confirmed bdnews24.com of the death.
Jamal's cousin Maksudul Hasan told bdnews24.com that Rupganj MP Gazi Golam Dastagir visited the hospital and donated Tk 20,000 for the burial.
Meanwhile, Rupganj police SI Mohammad Munsef filed a case on Saturday accusing six people and some 3,000-4,000 unidentified people for vandalism, loot and arson.
The six are Badal Bhuyian, 45, of Ichhakhali village, 'Mamun', 35, and 'Based', 45, of Rupganj, 'Tariqul', 42, of Pitalganj, 'Matin', 45, and 'Siraj', 45, of Safiana village.
SI Bari said their names were included in the case after their involvement was proved in preliminary investigation.
He also said additional law enforcers have been deployed in the area to maintain order. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police have been patrolling the area since Sunday morning.
Earlier on Saturday, at least 50 people were injured in a clash between police and demonstrators who blocked the Rupganj-Ichhapura road for about four hours from 6am demanding cancellation of the government decision to acquire about 5,000 bighas (165,000 decimals) of land for an army housing project.
The military personnel deployed there had been obstructed for over five hours before they were evacuated by helicopter. The mob set the camp into fire.
The police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) brought the situation under control around noon when they opened fire, charged batons and fired tear-shells on about 7,000 demonstrators.
But the law enforcement agencies have denied firing upon the people.
Former MP of the area, also a former army chief K M Shafiullah, told reporters that the incident occurred over a misunderstanding.
On the other hand, current MP Dastagir, a freedom fighter, and ruling Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif alleged that the main opposition BNP had instigated the locals to protest and demonstrate.
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