Local goons injured at least 10 shopkeepers and vandalised some 20 shops at a market in Sylhet city on Sunday morning failing to extort money from the businessmen.
The attackers also looted Tk 50,000 of a wholesale consumer during the attack, the shopkeepers alleged. Rakibul Islam, Maznu Miah, Layes Miah and Tara Miah were among the injured businessmen, the sources said.
Witnesses said a group of some 40 hoodlums, led by Manzur, Dipu and Tapu, sons of Hannan Miah of the city’s Masimpur, attacked the shopkeepers of a wholesale dried fish market in the area at around 11:00am, leaving more than 10 businessmen injured.
The attackers also vandalised some 20 shops and looted Tk 50,000 from a wholesale customer Akram Uddin, who went to the market from Balaganj upazila, sources in the shopkeepers said.
Talking to New Age, Shutki Bazar Bebsayee Samiti acting president Dara Miah said the local musclemen had been demanding Tk 1,00,000 as monthly toll from the shopkeepers of the market.
‘The gangsters also threatened on Saturday night that they would close the market the following morning, if their demanded amount was not paid by the time,’ the association leaders added.
Being contacted, Kotwali police officer-in-charge Narayan Datta confirmed the news of the attack on the shopkeepers and said they visited the spot immediately after the incident and seized iron rods and machetes left by the attackers.
‘Legal step would be taken against the attackers after receiving a written allegation from the victims,’ the police officer said in the afternoon.
-With New Age input
