Recovering grabbed canal: Mobile court attacked in Barishal

A mobile court came under attack today by a group of grabbers in Barishal while conducting drives to recover a grabbed canal.

This incident took place at Arjikalika Pur area in Babuganj upazila of the district this afternoon.

Two of the grabbers were awarded three months rigorous imprisonment in connection with the attack and cocktail explosion.

Seven others, who were also involved in the attack, were released because of minor age, reports our local correspondent, quoting Babuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nusrat Fatima.

"Abdul Halim built a structure on the century-old canal next to his house in the upazila's Chadpasha union. In response to the locals' request, a committee was formed to investigate blocking of water flow of the canal. The committee found the waterbody to be filled up ... Abdul Halim was told to clear the canal several times, but he did not pay heed to it," the UNO said.

"Abdul's two sons and their men obstructed the operation of the mobile court under my leadership. Bricks were thrown at the members of the mobile court and a cocktail was exploded. They even tried to attack me. At least nine people were taken into custody in this incident. Later, Nayem Hasan and Saiful Hasan, Abdul Halim's two sons, were sentenced to three months' rigorous imprisonment. Apart from this, seven more detainees were released under the custody of the local chairman and parents as they are school students," the UNO added.

Siddiqur Rahman, chairman of the Chadpasha union, said despite repeated orders, the accused did not remove the structures on this flowing canal. As a result, paddy cultivation on hundreds of acres in this area was interrupted.

Officer-in-Charge Helaluddin of Barishal Airport Police Station said, "We have heard about the attack. If the UNO directs, a case will be filed against the attackers."