|
Riot police exploded tear gas shells and sprayed hot water to foil an opposition march towards the Election Commission (EC) in the capital Sunday, leaving more than 50 people injured, reports UNB.
The demonstrators organised by the Awami League-led 14-Party Combine demanded resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice MA Aziz and the two newly appointed commissioners, and also cancellation of 'controversial' voters' list and appointment of alleged ruling party cadres as enumerators and election officers.
Witnesses said several thousand people marched towards the EC office at about 11:30am from Kalabagan, but faced the police action after 15 minutes at the crossing of Dhanmondi Road 27.
The police put up barricades on the road at the crossing. As the demonstrators led by their leaders tried to storm the barricades, the police sprayed hot water and used some 200 tear gas shells to disperse them, injuring more than 50 people.
Witnesses said many injured were seen rushing to clinics and hospitals in the area as the opposition activists continued fighting with the police until 12:30pm.
The demonstrators hurled brickbats at the law enforcers and burnt used tyres on the roads. The police stopped movement of traffic on the roads from Dhanmondi Road 27 to Science Laboratory crossing.
|