At least 13 people, including students, journalists and police personnel, were injured in a clash between police and Jagannath University (JnU) students at Murgitola intersection in Old Dhaka early Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 1am. The injured received treatment at Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital and the Central Police Hospital (CPH) in Rajarbagh.
Among those injured were Amar Desh reporter and Jagannath University Press Club General Secretary Limon Islam, and Dainik Shomoy Jagannath University correspondent Apurba Roy.
According to witnesses, the incident began after a local man, identified as Michael, was accused of stealing shoes from the residence of Ashraful Islam, a 19th-batch student of the university's Department of Law and Land Administration.
Students said Michael was identified through CCTV footage and detained by several JnU students. However, local residents allegedly intervened, freed him and attacked the students.
In response, hundreds of students gathered to search for the alleged attackers, who reportedly took shelter inside a nearby house.
The students surrounded the house, but police later escorted the suspect out. When students attempted to seize him from police custody, a clash broke out. Police then baton-charged the students to disperse the crowd.
Apurba Roy said he was photographing the incident when he was struck by police.
"I was taking pictures when a police officer baton-charged me, injuring my leg and other parts of my body," he told Dhaka Tribune.
Azharul Islam, a 19th-batch law student, alleged that police attacked students without provocation.
"I was standing peacefully when police suddenly charged at us. I suffered a head injury and needed three stitches," he said.
JnU Proctor Prof Dr Nasir Uddin said he had learned about the incident and would raise the matter with senior police officials.
"Police cannot baton-charge students of my institution in this manner. We will discuss the matter with the authorities concerned," he said.
Following the clash, students blocked Murgitola intersection from around 2:30am to 3:30am, causing heavy traffic congestion.
Police later detained the main suspect, identified as Michael, also known as Ashiqur Rahman Ashiq.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Demra Zone) Mir Muhsin Masud said the incident stemmed from the alleged shoe theft.
"We rescued the main accused from an angry crowd. At one stage, students tried to snatch him from police custody. Police were compelled to baton-charge to bring the situation under control. Five police personnel were injured in the incident," he said.