10 AL men hurt in rival’s attack in N’ganj

At least ten Awami League leaders and activists were injured in an attack by a rival faction in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj yesterday evening.

Three vehicles and six idols of a puja mandap were vandalised during the attack, our Narayanganj correspondent reports quoting police.

Witnesses said Narayanganj district AL’s Joint Secretary and organising secretary of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (SCP) Dr Abu Jafar Chowdhury went to visit a puja mandap at Gabtoli around 6:00pm.

But a group of 20-25 including former assistant president of Jampur union Humayun Kabir and his son Rubel Miah intercepted the motorcade of Abu Jafar near the puja mandap.

They attacked the motorcade with hockey sticks and iron rods, leaving 10 people injured, witnesses said.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Officer-in-Charge of Sonargaon Police Station Md Moniruzzaman.

The injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Failing to enter the puja mandap, Abu Jafar and his group left the place.

But around 7:30pm, a group of miscreants vandalised six idols of the puja mandap.

Gabtoli Puja Utjapon Committee President Hari Shudhan Biswas said a group led by AL leader Humayun carried out the attack and vandalised the idols.

Contacted, Dr Abu Jafar alleged that supporters of Humayun attacked his motorcade and injured 10 activists of Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swachchhasebok League.

Asked about the reason behind the attack, Abu Jabar said he has no idea as there is no previous enmity between the two factions.

Denying the allegation, Humayun said they did not attack the motorcade, rather, the people of Abu Jafar attacked them and vandalised the idols to put the blame on Humayun

Four of his people were injured in the attack, Humayun claimed.

Sonargaon UNO Anjan Kumar, who was visiting the area, confirmed that six idols were vandalised.

The UNO said he already gave instructions for taking action against the attackers.