Shibir men beaten up in Rajshahi

Mob beat up three activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of anti-independence party Jamaat-e-Islami, for firing blank shots and exploding crude bombs in the evening to create panic before Thursday’s strike.

The incident occurred at the Railway Colony in the city on Wednesday when police arrested eight Shibir activists, including the three beaten up by the mob.

Two of the three injured were identified as Toukir Ahmed, 22, and Liyakat Ali, first year student of the Arabic Department of Rajshahi University.

The identity of the other could not be ascertained.

The injured were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital.

Rajshahi Police Commissioner Monir-uz Zaman said local people chased some Shibir leaders who tried to block Rajshahi-Naogaon road in support of the strike called by Jamaat.

At least four crude bombs were exploded and blank shots were fired during the Shibir demonstration, he added.

People caught three of them in the chase.

Police also fired blank shots and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the mob and rescued the three Shibir activists.

“We arrested five more in an instant raid in the area. The three were hospitalised under police custody.”

Rapid Action Battalion and police were patrolling the city streets to prevent any violence during Thursday’s strike called by Jamaat.