The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Rajshahi

About 3,000 male inhabitants of three villages in Durgapur upazila fled home fearing arrest by police following rioting clashes two rival groups over a football match.

The villagers went into hiding to avoid reprisals by police as some cops also came under assault amid the soccer violence spreading over the villages till Friday.

According to a report of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), a friendly soccer match between Saibar village team and Choupukuria village team was held at Kathalbaria school playground in Durgapur on the afternoon of August 16.

Residents of Saibar and Choupukuria villages locked in clash over a decision of the referee during the match. Later, the feuding villagers attacked each other, forcing the police to swing into action.

Quoting villagers, the BIHR report said, "Police beat up people, including women and children, and vandalised many houses at Saibar village.

"The law-enforcers entered houses by breaking open doors and hurled abuses at the villagers."

On Saturday, it was found that the shopkeepers of Saibar village who have their shops at Kathalbaria village did not open their shops fearing "harassment" by police.

Local people told BIHR representatives that prayers at mosques at Saibar, Nauda Saibar and east Saibar villages remained suspended since the night of August 18 as villagers deserted homes. Even Juma prayer on Friday was not held at those mosques.

Villagers said the male ones, who have deserted their houses, have still been on the run since the night of August 18 and devotees could not attend prayers for fear.

Residents of Saibar alleged that police did not accept case when they went to file case against "police harassment" and attack by Kathalbaria villagers.

Quoting duty officer of Durgapur thana Muklesur Rahman, the BIHR report said three policemen were injured in an attack by people of Saibar village as the law-enforcers went to the village on August 18 to calm the trouble.

The police official denied police involvement in torture of women and children and ransacking of houses.

He said SI Abdul Gani filed a case with thana against unspecified number of Saibar villagers in connection with the "attack on policemen".

The police official said Ramzan Ali of Kathalbaria village filed another case against many villagers of Saibar village.

Comment of the district Police Super could not be taken about the issue, as he was busy otherwise.