Narsingdi, Bangladesh - At least 16 people including four policemen were injured in a series of clashes between law enforcers and religious zealots as the fundamentalists tried to swoop on a minority sect in Narsingdi.
Police fired at least 20 shotgun-shells to bring the situation under control when a Bangladesh Khatme Nabuwat procession tried to attack followers of Barkatullah at Gazaria area yesterday evening.
Around 2,500 people yesterday held a rally before the procession at Dari Bausia Eidgah Maidan under the banner of Khatme Nabuwat with Maulana Mohammad Hassan in the chair.
The bigots termed Barkatullah's followers as Kadiyani [Ahmadiyyas] to spread hatred among the people, locals said.
Witnesses said police barricaded a Khatme Nabuwat procession when it moved towards Bhaber Char area around 5:00pm.
Khatme Nabuwat activists hurled bricks and stones at the law enforcers and barricaded Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Bhaber Char. As police went to dismantle the barricades, they attacked law enforcers. Chases, counter chases and clashes ensued and police fired shots in the air to disperse the mob.
Sub-inspectors Majibur, Anwar and professional sub-inspectors Selim and Mamun were hurt during the clashes.
Additional police have been deployed in the area as tensed situation prevails following the clashes.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Dhaka however said it does not have any of its community people in that locality.