40 Jamaat men held for blocking roads for rally

29 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The police arrested some 40 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir in the city's Paltan area yesterday afternoon as they tried to hold a rally obstructing traffic and causing suffering to the people. Several hundred Jamaat and Shibir activists also brought out a procession in the area after Asr prayers demanding immediate steps to resolve water, gas and power crisis. As they tried to hold a rally blocking the roads in Paltan, Topkhana and Jatiya Press Club areas, the police prevented them, resulting in a clash, witnesses said. During the clash, traffic movement came to a halt for about half an hour, causing a severe traffic jam in the area. Sub-inspector Shah Jalal of Paltan Police Station said they detained 27 Jamaat and Shibir activists while Officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station Rezaul Karim said they picked up 13 others during the clash. They said the Jamaat-Shibir activists attempted to hold a rally without police permission. Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, however, claimed that the police attacked their rally. He demanded immediate release of the party men.