<i>BCL leaders beaten up as they try to extort AL man</i>

2 September 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

At least five people were injured as BCL activists clashed with AL supporters at Hizla upazila town yesterday over collection of toll from a contractor cum AL leader. Of the injured, Solaiman Sardar, upazila BCL secretary and Mohammad Russel, joint secretary of Hizla College BCL unit were admitted to upazila health complex. Sources said Solaiman and his associates demanded toll from Sekandar Bepari, president of Baro Jalia union AL and a contractor triggering serious altercation followed by clash. Witnesses said, AL activists and labourers of Sekandar gave Solaiman and Russel a good beating. Fleeing from spot, the two BCL leaders informed the matter to their activists who locked in a clash with the followers and workers of Sekandar. Local senior AL leaders rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. Sekandar alleged that Solaiman was demanding toll from him from the beginning of the work and being refused he and his associates tried to stop the work. Solaiman denied the allegation of demanding toll saying that he with his associates were crossing the spot on amotorbike. Misunderstandings arose when a portion of his construction work was damaged, he said. SI Md Mohsin of Hizla police station said there was an altercation between AL and BCL activists but they reached a compromise following intervention of senior AL leaders.