Clashes erupt as police halt Inqilab Mancha march towards Jamuna; several injured
Clashes continue with law enforcement maintaining a heavy presence.
Police used batons, sound grenades, water cannons and tear gas this afternoon (6 February) to disperse supporters of Inqilab Mancha who attempted to march towards the chief adviser's residence, demanding justice for the killing of their spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.
A number of people, including police, have reportedly been injured during clashes.
According to sources, protesters started gathering near the InterContinental Dhaka in the capitals Ramna after the platform called for a sit-in yesterday evening. To ensure the protest does not reach the chief adviser's residence, the State Guest House Jamuna, police erected a barricade at the entrance to Minto Road.
At around 3:45pm when the protesters tried marching towards Jamuna, police blocked their advance. When they tried removing the barricade, police started firing water cannons and sound grenades at the advancing protesters.
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When the protesters started hurling bricks in return, police then charged with batons and fired more sound grenades and tear gas while deploying water canons to scatter them towards Shahbagh and Banglamotor area.
During the clash, claims started circulating on social media that the Inquilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber had been shot.
However, speaking to journalists this afternoon, DMP Additional Police Commissioner (Logistics, Finance and Procurement) Hasan Md Shawkat Ali said that they did not use any bullets of firearms.
"When protesters suddenly turned violent and tried to enter the KPI area, police intervened and used only water cannon, sound grenades and tear gas to bring the situation under control, without firing any bullets or using firearms," he said.
He also added that he and 18 other police officers were injured in the protesters' attack, four of whom were taken to the hospital.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) authorities also confirmed that none of the injured in the clash suffered gunshot wounds.
None of the injured required hospital admission, said DMCH Director Brig Gen Md Asaduzzaman, reports bdnews24.com
At the time of filing this report, clashes were continuing in the area, with law enforcers maintaining a heavy presence.
Earlier, Inqilab Mancha had called on its leaders and activists to stage a sit-in near InterContinental Dhaka after Jummah prayer today, demanding justice for the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, the platform's spokesperson.
The call followed a sit-in launched yesterday evening (5 February) near the state guest house Jamuna, the official residence of the chief adviser. Protesters have been demanding a United Nations-led investigation into the killing of Hadi.
In a Facebook update, Inqilab Mancha said that if no assurance comes from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus regarding a UN probe, students and the public would be asked to gather peacefully in front of Jamuna.
