At least 12 people have been held by the police after 20 were injured in a clash Monday when an angry mob tried to break into Chitalmari police station in Bagerhat demanding punishment for a college student who allegedly insulted the Prophet (PBUH).
According to Superintendent (SP) of Bagerhat police KM Ariful haque, a facebook post insulting Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) was shared a few days ago from the FB ID of Ronit Bala Rony, a Grade-XI student at the local Sher-e-Bangla College.
The police held the girl after noticing the post on the night of June 12. On Monday noon, a few hundred people gathered outside the Chitalmari police station and started to protest demanding proper punishment for the girl.
At one point, they attacked the police station and vandalized it along with vehicles parked outside.
“The situation turned extreme when the protesters tried to enter the police station. Police members had to fire 24 rounds of empty bullets to bring the situation under control. 20 people, including 12 police personnel, got injured during this time,” said Ariful.
“The police have so far arrested 12 people in this connection. Currently, they are being quizzed inside the police station. Process to lodge a case by the police is also underway,” added Ariful.
Ariful mentioned that the college student claimed that she didn’t post the derogatory status. Rather, someone else opened a fake account with her name and posted it to spoil her.
“Police are investigating the claim,” Ariful added.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Chitalmari Syeda Faizunnesa said that she rushed to the police station after learning about the attack.
“There, they threw brickbats at me and vandalized my car,” Faizunnesa said.
Marufa Nasrin, a doctor at the Chitalmari Upazila Health Complex, said that a total of eight people of different age groups have received first-aid from the hospital.
Extra police personnel have been deployed at the police station to prevent any untoward incident.
Source: United News of Bangladesh