Pallabi eviction drive faces resistance; police baton-charge residents after attack
Authorities later resumed the eviction drive around 4pm, during which batons were used to disperse people who attempted to obstruct the operation.
A clash broke out between police and locals during an eviction drive in the capital's Pallabi area today (20 May), leaving several police personnel injured.
The eviction drive began around 10:30am under the supervision of an executive magistrate as part of an operation led by the Public Works Department to clear government land owned by the National Housing Authority that had allegedly been illegally occupied.
Police from Pallabi Police Station and the Public Order Management (POM) unit were deployed to provide security, Deputy Commissioner (Mirpur Division) Md Mostak Sarker confirmed.
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According to the police official, the operation faced resistance from local residents who attempted to obstruct the drive.
"At one stage, the situation escalated and locals allegedly hurled bricks and stones at law enforcers, injuring six to seven police members. The injured officers were later taken to Central Police Hospital at Rajarbagh," DC Mostak said.
As tensions escalated, the executive magistrate left the scene around noon, followed by police personnel who temporarily dispersed, he added.
Locals then chased them and continued throwing bricks and stones, according to police and eyewitness accounts.
Several videos circulating on social media showed crowds chasing police officers and throwing bricks as officers ran for safety.
Authorities later resumed the eviction drive around 4pm, during which batons were used to disperse people who attempted to obstruct the operation, the DC said.
During the clash, two journalists—Bangladesh Times reporter Tasbir Iqbal and Bangladesh Pratidin reporter Nehal Ahmed Pranto—were allegedly assaulted by police.
Pranto alleged that police attacked them after they questioned why the eviction drive was being conducted without prior notice.
Responding to the allegation, DC Mostak said police used batons during the afternoon operation to protect themselves and the executive magistrate from an agitated crowd.
"Some journalists who were among the crowd may have been hit during the baton charge, but no one was targeted knowingly after being identified as journalists," he added.
