Around 50 police, students injured in clashes at Dhaka University

Dhaka, Aug 20 (UNI) Around 50 students and policemen were injured in widespread clashes at Dhaka University this evening following the beating up of some students by some army personnel over watching a football match, witnesses said.

Campus and police sources said some 30 students were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with serious injuries as police fired at least 200 teargas shells and water cannon to break up the protests that spilled over the entire university campus.

Police, in riot gear, were trying to enter Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall and other dorms to flush out the protesters.

The trouble started following a quarrel between some plain-clothed army personnel and students at Dhaka University playground, where an army camp was situated this afternoon.

One of the army personnel, who is in the camp for enforcing emergency rules, allegedly hurled abuses at the students. As the students protested against the indecent words, the army personnel began beating up the protestors.

The army personnel also humiliated the teachers who tried to control the situation.

Later, the students took out a protest procession and demanded an immediate withdrawal of the army camp from the campus by 1100 hrs tommorow.

As demonstrations continued, the police baton charged the agitated students and quelled their procession, injuring five to six demonstrators.

Hundreds of police were deployed on the campus to come to grips with the situation. The incident triggered a massive reaction by the evening, as thousands of students took to the street to stage protests.

Four of the injured were admitted to University Hospital, while the rest, critically injured, were admitted to DMCH.

Students coming out of their halls continued demonstrating by chanting slogans demanding punishment for the army personnel responsible for the incident and their withdrawal from the campus.

The angry students also went to gherao the residence of the Vice-chancellor of the University at about 2110 hrs and ransacked the VC's vehicle while it was passing through the troubled area.

Police fired 50 teargas shells and used water cannon to break up the protests, while the students retaliated by pelted brick58 s targeting the cops leaving two policemen wounded.

UNI