Controversy over Kadianis 150 hurt as police, musallies clash
By Staff Reporter
Nov 22, 2003, 01:40

At least 150 people including 20 police personnel were injured some of them seriously in clashes between police and a group of musallis at Tejgaon in the city yesterday.
Local people said that clashes between the police and the mob occurred two times leaving scores of people injured.
Local people also said that at first clashes broke out at about 11 AM when a section of people led by Imam of Rahim Metal Mosque Maulana Mahmudul Hasan Mamatazi made an attempt to occupy a mosque of Kadiani community at East Nakhalpara in the city. Police on duty intercepted and used batons to disperse the mob, Police also lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control.

During the period the devotees became agitated centering a rumour that one of the leaders of the devotees Enayetullah Abbasi was injured critically in police action.
However, the militant devotees and the police locked in clashes for the second time after Jumma prayers.
Police charged batons in front of the Nabisco factory at Tejgaon when the unruly people put barricade on the Tejgaon-Mohakhali road. The devotees went on rampage and attacked Mohakhali Police Box. The unruly mob set fire to two motorcycles of Sergeant Delwar and Sergeant Munir.
The traffic movement on Tejgaon-Mohakhali road remained suspended for at least five hours as the militant devotees put barricade there.
The devotees led by the Imam of Rahim Metal Mosque Maulana Mahmudul Hasan later held a rally there demanding declaration of the Kadiani community as non-Muslim in Bangladesh. Speakers at the rally announced action programmes to force the government to declare Kadiani community as non-Muslim. According to the action programmes announced yesterday, black flags would be hoisted at all mosques across the country and Eidgah grounds. On December 5 countrywide mass- blockade will also be organised.
When contacted Tejgaon police said seven policemen were rushed to Police Hospital. The condition of two injured police personnel was said to be critical.
However, police made no arrest in connection with the incident. A tense situation was also prevailing in Tejgaon area till evening.

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