Five villagers killed in clash with police in western Bangladesh

Five people were killed and over 100 others, including 49 policemen, injured in western Bangladesh in a Monday-night clash between police and angry villagers who demonstrated for free of their three arrested leaders.

Rezaul Karim, police chief of Bangladesh's western Chapainawabganj district told Xinhua Tuesday by phone that five people were killed in police firing on Monday night and the situation was under control.

Karim said the trouble erupted after villagers blocked the major road towards Bangladesh-India frontier for release of three leaders of Rural Power Movement Committee arrested in connection with a similar clash on Jan. 4. The clash also left three people killed.

Karim said police went to quell the agitation of the villagers and opened the blocked road, but angry villagers attacked police. Police then opened fire, killing five people and injuring more than 100 others. Policemen were among the injured in the clash, Karim said.

The villagers had a dispute with the power supply authority demanding uninterrupted supply of power and reduction of meter charge.

Karim said the para-military Bangladesh Rifles and police are guarding the area and the situation is now under control.

Source: Xinhua