TDS Desk:

A case has been filed against anti-quota protesters on charges of vandalising police vehicles, assaulting police officials and attacking policemen during the ongoing quota reform movement.

On Friday night, Khalilur Rahman, a driver from the Transport Department of Rajarbagh Police Lines, filed the case with the Shahbagh police station accusing many unidentified students, who took part in the quota movement.

Inspector (Operations) of Shahbagh Police Station Md Arshad Hossain acknowledged the matter on Saturday afternoon.

According to the case statement, on July 11 a pre-announced movement program of the anti-quota student movement took place, unidentified students crossed the Shahbagh intersection, at around 4pm, forming an illegal assembly that caused riots and obstructed government duties.

They broke through the police barricade at Shahbagh and clashed with officers, beating up officers on duty and injuring others.

As the protesters moved towards Hotel Intercontinental, senior police officials attempted to direct them back to Shahbagh intersection. The agitators then surrounded APC-25 and a water cannon parked near BSMMU, behaving aggressively.

They forced the water cannon driver out and vandalised the vehicle, causing damage estimated at Tk 5 lakh. This included breaking two SS stands in front of APC 25, the radio antenna, the rear wheel guard, and the left-side mirror of the water cannon, added the case statement.

A general diary was subsequently filed with Shahbagh Police Station.

The case statement further mentioned that senior officers tried to control the situation with great patients, the agitators became more violent, throwing water bottles, table tennis balls, and bricks at the police, resulting in injuries to many officers.

At one point, unidentified students from Jagannath University joined the protest the joined at Shahbagh, broke the barricade near Birdem Hospital gate and injuring more policemen while shouting slogans and hurling abuses.

The agitators further tried to escalate the situation by spreading rumors of police attacks on students at other universities, including Cumilla University, and arrest at Shahbagh police station, it added.

The protesters eventually left Shahbagh intersection, threatening the police. The protesters willfully attack and obstruct the riot control officers causing harm and intimidation, according to the case statement.