Students clash with transport workers: 11 hurt

The attack was in retaliation to an attack by illegal operators of trawler-tempos who protested introduction of new bus service along the route. Tempo workers ransacked the college and injured 11 teachers and students of the college.

According to related sources, locally assembled tempos with irrigation pump machines, locally called trawler-tempos illegally plied to Binoykati in Jhalakati district from Battala trawler-tempo stand of the city via Nabagram. They had no legal route permit and the vehicles created air pollution and plied with risk.

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Under the initiative of teachers and students of Binoykati College, the bus service started on the route from March 20. This resulted in decrease in number of passengers of the trawler-tempos.

Agitated trawler-tempo operators assaulted Principal A T M Mizanur Rahman and Abdus Salam, a lecturer of the college on Saturday. Hearing the news, the college students damaged a trawler-tempo in the morning. Then the trawler-tempo workers counter attacked the students on the college campus at about 12-30pm on the day leaving 11 teachers, staff and students injured.

Local people and police controlled the situation.

The injured persons were rushed to Jhalakati Sadar Hospital. The condition of three students serious, doctors said.