UPDF damages vehicles during road blockade

14 October 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

Activists of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) damaged 10 vehicles at seperate places in Khagrachhari district during a day-long road blockade programme enforced by the anti-peace treaty organisation yesterday protesting attack on their leaders at a bazar in Laxmichhari upazila on October 9. They put up barricades at different intersections at Panchhari, Dighinala and Khagrachhari Sadar upazila headquarters in the district at around 9:30am and vandalised four trucks, two passenger buses, one ambulence and three motorbikes. The UPDF activists set fire to a covered van, damaged eight rickshaws, beat up rickshawpullers and passengers during the blockade in Khejur Bagan and Rubber bagun areas and at Dighinala bus stand. Khagrachhari Collegiate School and other educational institutions at the district headquarters remained closed during the programme. Sporadic clashes between the law enforcers and the UPDF activists took place in different areas of the district. Additional police and army personnel were deployed at the district headquarters and at some others places. UPDF leaders alleged that the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Bangalee Chhatra Parishad (BCP) jointly launched the attack on the indigenous people including the UPDF leaders at laxmichhari Bazar at around 7:00pm on October 9, leaving six injured.