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Protesters clash with cops, 23 hurt
[Bangla Daily Star] At least 23 people including eight coppers were maimed in a clash between cops and BNP-Jamaat activists over bringing out a procession in protest against an anti-Islami film at Sunderganj upazila in Gaibandha yesterday.

Police fired a hundred blank shots and two rounds of tear gas to disperse the procession, said Jalal Uddin Ahmed, a sub-inspector of Sunderganj Police Station.

The law enforcers also picked up eight Jamaat activists from the spot, he added.

Police and witnesses said BNP-Jamaat activists brought out the procession in the evening chanting slogans and demanding punishment of the US filmmaker.

When the demonstrators reached the Amtoli point around 6:00pm, a police contingent intercepted the procession and charged truncheons to disperse them.

A running battle between law enforcers and activists started. At one stage, demonstrators threw brick bats at cops, leaving eight coppers, including two assistant sub-inspectors (ASI), injured.

ASI Nitai Chandra was rushed to Rangpur Medial College Hospital in a critical condition. The other injured coppers including ASI Shyamol Chandra, constables Abdur Razzak, Shyamol Kumar were admitted to Sunderganj Health Complex.

The 15 injured activists of BNP-Jamaat were admitted to different local clinics in the district.

Assistant Police Superintendent Mahfuzar Rahman said additional police force had been deployed to avoid further violence.

Posted by: Fred 2012-10-01
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=353022