At least 15 injured in clash with cops, protesters besiege Patiya Police Station

About 15-20 people, including four police personnel and student activists, were injured in a clash in front of Patiya police station in Chattogram last night (1 July). The incident led anti-discrimination student protesters to lay siege to the station the following morning (2 July), demanding justice and the removal of the accused officer in-charge.

The protestors, mostly supporters of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and National Citizen Party, began their sit-in in front of the main gate of the police station around 10am, protesting what they alleged were two attacks by police on their activists. They demanded justice and said they would continue their demonstration until their demands were met.

A faction of the demonstrators also blocked the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway near the station at around 10:40am, leading to significant traffic congestion on both sides of the road.

By 10:45am, around 30 to 40 activists were seen occupying the area in front of the police station, chanting slogans against the police, while others staged a sit-in on the highway.

The clash had first erupted around 9:30pm last night (1 July), when student activists reportedly detained a local Chhatra League leader near the Central Shaheed Minar in Patiya and took him to the police station. Police refused to arrest the individual, citing the absence of any case against him, which led to an altercation that escalated into violence.

Later, police were forced to take the Chhatra League leader into custody.

Another clash broke out around 11:30pm the same night when several others were also injured.

Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) Joint Chief Organiser Jobairul Hasan Arif told The Business Standard, "More than 40 of our leaders and activists have been injured by the police. We are at the scene. We will not leave the road until this incident is resolved."

Patiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abu Zahed Md Nazmun Noor claimed to various media outlets last night that the scuffle with the police started after a mob broke through the security cordon and entered the police station. He could not be reached for comment after that.

District Additional Superintendent of Police (Patia Circle) Md Ariful Islam told TBS, "I was in Dhaka on vacation. After this incident, I cancelled my vacation and left for Chattogram. I will be able to tell you more about the incident after going to the spot."

Additional Superintendent of Police (Industrial Area and DB) Md Russell, who is in charge of public relations for the district police, was contacted on his mobile phone several times, but he could not be reached.

SAD condemns police assault in Patiya, demands accountability

Students Against Discrimination has strongly condemned the police assault on student protesters in front of Patiya police station in Chattogram yesterday (1 July) and has demanded immediate accountability and justice.

In a press release issued today (2 July), the platform expressed "deep concern" over what it termed as an "unacceptable and unprovoked" attack by police on peaceful demonstrators. The protesters were participating in a scheduled programme when the incident occurred.

"The actions of the police, including baton charges, manhandling, and derogatory behaviour, are violations of constitutional values and democratic rights," the statement read, terming the conduct of law enforcers as "unethical, biased, and a classic example of abuse of power."

The platform further said, "In a democratic country, protest and dissent are fundamental rights. To be subjected to police brutality while exercising those rights is deeply alarming and unacceptable."

The Students Against Discrimination placed four specific demands:

1. Formation of an impartial investigative committee to ensure accountability of the officer-in-charge of Patiya police station.
2. Identification and exemplary punishment of police personnel involved in the attack.
3. Assurance of proper medical care for the injured students and state acknowledgement of responsibility for the incident.
4. Implementation of transparent policing standards and the upholding of political neutrality in law enforcement agencies.

"We make it clear once again, we will not accept any form of police repression, crackdown on student movements, or state-sponsored bias," the platform stated, adding, "If the state fails to fulfil its responsibilities, resistance will be built from the people's side."

"We will continue our movement responsibly, but we will also remain on the streets, in the fields, and in the pages of history against administrative injustice," the release concluded.