Police vehicle arsonist ‘identified’

Police vehicle arsonist ‘identified’
Police vehicle arsonist ‘identified’

The police have claimed that the man who torched the police vehicle during clashes between the police and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists on Wednesday has been identified.

The Motijheel zone assistant commissioner of police Mishu Bishwas on Thursday morning told Prothom Alo the arsonist was Shahjalal Khandakar, a member of a convenor committee of Paltan thana Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.

The police officer said the young man who was jumping on the police vehicle has also been identified as a member of Chhatra Dal.

However, Prothom Alo could not immediately verify the claim made by the police.

Mishu Bishwas also said so far 30 people had been marked in connection with the clashes. Meanwhile, 65 people were detained in several drives, he added.

But, neither the vandaliser nor arsonist of the police vehicle, Mishu added, were among the detainees.

The police have filed three cases accusing BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas with the Paltan police station.

Paltan police station officer-in-charge Mahmudul Hassan said the cases were filed in connection with vandalising vehicles, arson, barricading roads, beating up members of the police and hindering government duties.

BNP leader and activists said the clashes ensued when police charged batons on their activists to clear the roads.

The BNP activists alleged that police fired a huge number of tear-gas shells and rubber bullets, turning the spot into a ‘battlefield.’

Two police vehicles were torched and several vehicles were vandalised during the clashes.

BNP claimed that around fifty of its leaders and activists were injured in the clashes while police claimed 23 members of police were injured.

Police also said Mirza Abbas, his wife Afroza Abbas, BNP leaders Akhtaruzzaman and Nabiullah were behind the incident.

However, BNP leader Mirza Abbas said, “It could have been sabotage by the government or the Awami League.”