At least three people were killed and 50 others injured in police firing after they blocked the Tangail-Mymensingh road demanding quick trial of a rapist.
Police said Shamim, 35, from Kalia village of Ghatail, died on the spot while Faruk, 32, of Satia village of the same upazila, succumbed to his injuries at Tangail Sadar Hospital.
“Another Nitai Chandra died when he was being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital,” OC Md Shahidul Islam said.
More than 10 protesters sustained bullet injuries. The injured were admitted to nearby hospitals.
The district administration and the police formed two probe committees.
The clash ensued around 4:30pm when several hundred people from Ghatail and Kalihati areas brought out a protest procession on the road, suspending traffic movement. Police barred them from demonstrating on the road triggering a chase and counter-chase.
At one point, police charged batons on them and fired from shotguns resulting in the death of Shamim on the spot.
The locals were protesting the rape of a Ghatail woman in front of her son Al Amin on September 15. Rapist Rafiqul Islam Roma is the son of Mozaffar Hossain from Satutia under Kalihati upazila.
Locals say Roma’s wife got engaged in a relation with Al Amin, 17, and they eloped several months back. Later she was brought back. But Roma’s wife again went to Al Amin on September 12, according to locals.
Later Roma’s family members asked Al Amin, his mother and Roma’s wife to go to their house for discussing the matter on September 15. Around 11am that day, Roma and his associates stripped off Al Amin and his mother, and tortured them. Roma also raped the woman.
Local police went to the spot on information, rescued the duo and also arrested Roma.
The rape victim filed a case the same day against Roma, his brother-in-law Hafiz and another person named Kazi under the Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Act with Kalihati police.