Jewel Chowdhury, Habiganj/

1,200 people have been charged in two separate cases in connection with the clash of BNP leaders and workers with the police in Shaistanagar of Habiganj city. Habiganj District BNP general secretary and former municipal mayor GK Gauch has been made the main accused in both the cases. Meanwhile, Shaistaganj municipal councilor BNP leader Abdul Jalil and 10 people who were arrested on Monday night have been sent to jail. Earlier on Sunday also 6 more people were sent to the court.

SI Khorshed Alam of Sadar Model Police Station and SI Waheed Ghazi filed two cases under Police Assault and Explosives Act as the plaintiff. In each case, 600 people have been identified and a total of 1,200 people have been accused, including the names of 90 leaders and activists.

According to the details of the case, BNP leaders and workers ambushed the police from a march in the city’s Shaistanagar area as part of the central program last Saturday afternoon. At least 20 policemen including Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station OC Ajay Chandra Dev were injured.

Meanwhile, Ajay Chandra, who was injured last Sunday, was sent to Dhaka National Eye Hospital for better treatment. Other injured have been treated at Habiganj District Sadar Hospital.

Police said that 16 people have been arrested so far. An operation is underway to arrest the other accused. Meanwhile, Habiganj BNP general secretary SM Awal, who was injured in the clash, is admitted in the ICU of a private hospital in critical condition. Apart from this, more than half a hundred activists were injured by the rubber bullets fired by the police.

On the other hand, last Sunday afternoon, a clash took place from the Habiganj district Awami League protest and peace rally in protest of BNP’s terrorism and anarchy. Hundreds more were injured. However, no case has yet been filed in this incident.

Additional Superintendent of Police Khalilur Rahman said that the arrested have been sent to court. The operation to nab the rest continues. Apart from this, the police are on high alert to avoid further clashes in the city.