Four cases filed over Mirpur hawker eviction clash; 25 arrested

Four cases have been filed over clashes, attacks on police, vehicle vandalism and arson during a hawker eviction drive in Dhaka's Mirpur-10 area, with 25 people arrested so far.

Three cases were filed with Mirpur Model Police Station and one with Kafrul Police Station in connection with the incidents. The arrested individuals will be produced before a court today (1 October).

Akter Hossain, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Media and Public Relations Division, confirmed the arrests and the cases.

Of the three cases filed with Mirpur Model Police Station, two were filed by police officers, while the third was filed by an official of the Dhaka North City Corporation's (DNCC) waste management department.

A total of 17 people have been named as accused in the three cases, while 400 to 500 unidentified people have also been accused.

The cases include allegations of attacking police officers, obstructing government duties, vandalising police vehicles and a traffic police box, setting fire to a city corporation vehicle and damaging government property.

The eviction drive began yesterday (30 September) morning near Hope Market in Mirpur-10, as the DNCC moved to clear pavements of illegal occupation.

During the operation, clashes broke out between hawkers and police. As the situation escalated, several city corporation vehicles were vandalised and set on fire, while a police vehicle was also damaged.

The traffic police box at Mirpur-10 was also vandalised.

Police said some hawkers threw bricks and stones at officers as they attempted to bring the situation under control, injuring several members of the force.

There were also allegations of attacks on journalists and vandalism of media vehicles. Several journalists at the scene were reportedly assaulted, according to reports by multiple media outlets.

A fourth case was filed with Kafrul Police Station in connection with the incidents in Mirpur-10. Police said the case relates to the setting fire to a vehicle.

Mirpur Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hafizur Rahman said authorities were investigating the incidents and had begun filing cases over the vandalism and arson.

Police said they were reviewing video footage, photographs and other information from the scene to identify those involved in the attacks, vandalism and arson.

Meanwhile, DNCC Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton said the eviction drive would continue.

The DNCC said the operation in Mirpur-10 was part of an ongoing campaign to clear pavements of illegal occupation.

The city corporation's administrator also said efforts had been made before the latest operation to consult hawkers and provide them with opportunities to run their businesses in alternative locations.