Rivals stage showdown in Jaldhaka

A truck procession by the pro-Kabir group proceeding towards the district town from Jaldhaka to besiege the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office yesterday, was obstructed by police near the town on Nilphamari-Jaldhaka highway.

Kabir, also the municipal chairman of Jaldhaka, is now in custody and is being tried on charge of raping a young girl eight months ago.

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Earlier 'Kabir Mukti Parishad', a pro-BNP social body declared an agitation programme including plan to besiege the DC office of Nilphamari demanding release of their leader.

The supporters of Kabir began to gather on the Upazila Parishad premises from yesterday morning on foot and by trucks.

On the other hand, hundreds under the banner of 'Committee to resist Crime', an all-party body began to assemble at zero point of the town. They vowed to resist any programme in favour of Kabir and demanded a quick verdict in the court.

Upazila Jubo League president Abdul Wahed Bahadur and Jaldhaka municipal commissioner Md Montu Mia, both members of the newly formed committee led this group.

The two groups locked in chases and counter chases which continued till noon.

At 10.45 am, a truckload of pro-Kabir people from Koimari union on its way to upazila parishad reached the zero point area. The truck was obstructed by the rival group.

Clashes erupted and five people received injuries. Of them, Abdul Kader of Bogulaguri village was admitted to upazila health complex.

When the situation was turning towards a bloody clash, a big contingent of police under a magistrate obstructed the truck convoy carrying pro-Kabir people. The convenor of 'Kabir Mukti Parishad,' Shahjahan Kabir Lenin later handed over a memorandum to magistrate Tarikul Islam to hand it over to the DC. In the memorandum they demanded immediate release of Kabir Chowdhury.

The convenor of anti-Kabir group, Selimur Rahman, in a statement, said that the programmes taken by pro-Kabir men is nothing but a bid to exert pressure on the poor rape victim and the witnesses to hinder the course of law.