Police shoot three dead at Chapai Nawabgonj; 50 injured

At least three people were killed and over 50 others injured as police opened fire on villagers in Shyampur area under Shibganj upazila early Friday. The incident occurred after villagers obstructed police when the law enforcers started raiding different houses of area to arrest accused people in connection with violence after the verdict of Allama Sayedee.

Hartal has been called by the 18 party alliance on Sunday at Chapai Nawabgonj District to protest the deaths.

The deceased were identified as Oliullah (23) , Motiur (25) and Robiul (24). Among the deceased, Rabiul hails from the village of Babupur while Matiur hails from the village of Gopalnagar.

Locals said that units of police, RAB and BGB arrived at Shyampur union at 3 am to conduct a joint operation to nab accused in police cases filed against villagers for their alleged role in arson of Palli Bidyut Samity Office in violence which occurred after the verdict of Delwar Hossain Sayedee. On hearing the news, local residents grouped together and denounced the operation.

Shortly, at one point, clashes erupted between the law enforcers and the villagers. The clashes took turn towards a more deadly note in the morning when the law enforcers opened fire and killed 2 people on the spot, injuring many others. Another person died on his way to the hospital.

Additional police, RAB and BGB forces have been deployed in the area after the incident. Police have stepped up their operation to search for the accused villagers.

In protest of the incident, locals put barricade on Chapainawabganj-Sona Mosjid road. 

Confirming the truth of the incident, Chapai Nawabgonj ASP Circle Matiur Rahman said, “ Jamaat-Shibir with the aid of the villagers turned violent against police who went to arrest criminals at Shyampur.”

However, he could not say whether any casualties had occurred at the premises of the incident.