Srimangal (Moulvibazar) Correspondent //

Two sides clashed over tomtom parking in Srimangal, Moulvibazar. Police fired 56 rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control. At one point, the clash intensified and the army came to control it. It is reported that 39 people from both sides, including passers-by, were injured in the incident.

During the clash, 12/13 tomtoms and a private car were vandalized. During this, panic spread in the surrounding areas of the city. Shops and markets were closed. The common people who came to the Eid market suffered.

It is learned that on Sunday (March 31), around 11 pm, a clash broke out between two sides over tomtom parking at Gadarbazar on Habiganj Road in Srimangal Municipality. Later, residents of Uttar Baraura village in the suburbs took up positions on Habiganj Road in the city with batons.

On the other hand, a group supported by former mayor of Srimangal Municipality and district BNP leader Mohsin Mia Madhu took up positions on Station Road in the city, creating huge tension. The common people who came to the Eid market started leaving the city in panic. When the two sides clashed face-to-face at around 2 am, the police tried to control the clash by firing rubber bullets. When the situation did not calm down, an army team arrived at around 2:30 am to calm the situation.

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, a non-profit daily goods shop was set up on a government land at a place called Gadar Bazar on Habiganj Road in the city a couple of months ago at the initiative of former municipal mayor Mohsin Mia to control the booming market. Former mayor Mohsin Mia Madhu came to inspect his non-profit market at around 10:30 pm. At that time, Madhu Mia got into an argument with the tomtom drivers after seeing the tomtom parked in front of the Binalavher Bazar.

Former Sadar Union member Anar Mia asked Mohsin Mia about the matter, and UP member Anar got into an argument with Madhu Mia and his people. Following this incident, people supporting former Mayor Mohsin Mia vandalized a private car of a transport worker leader named Sagar and 10/12 tomtoms. When the news of the vandalism of the tomtoms and the attack on the drivers reached the drivers’ village, the matter was announced on the mosque’s microphone.

Later, several hundred people from Paschim Bharaura village entered the city with lapis lazuli. They wanted to go to attack the house of former Mayor Mohsin Mia, but the police stationed at the city square started firing blank bullets and rubber bullets, and the mayor’s people also started throwing bricks from the city’s Station Road. When the police moved away, both sides engaged in a face-to-face clash. At least 39 people were injured on both sides.

A pedestrian named Joy Chowdhury from Sabujbagh area of ​​the upazila was seriously injured. He was reportedly sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital at night. The clash lasted until 2 am. Later, the army arrived and brought the situation under control. During this, the army members arrested 13 people including former mayor Mohsin Mia Madhu along with country-made weapons and handed them over to Srimangal police station.

Meanwhile, a raid was conducted in Paschim Baraura village and the son of an Anar member was arrested. In this regard, Srimangal police station officer-in-charge (OC) Md. Aminul Islam said that a total of 14 people were handed over to the police station in the clash. The detainees were sent to jail through the Moulvibazar District Court on Monday afternoon.

In this regard, Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Islam Uddin said that if the clash between tom-tom drivers, villagers and the former mayor’s people was not controlled in time, many people could have been killed.

Express your opinion.