Man ends up in hospital for protesting ball-throwing at wife
A tourist was beaten and injured by army members at Kolatoli Sugandha point on the Cox’s Bazar sea beach yesterday morning.
Two constables of Tourist Police– Karmen Priya Chakma, 28, and Jewel Haque, 29– were also beaten up when they tried to save Mohammad Hanif, 40, who came from Narayanganj.
The incident occurred around 10:30am when Hanif, his wife, two sisters and mother were taking sea bath at Sugandha point. At the time, a group of youths threw a football at Hanif’s wife. As Hanif protested their improper behaviour, the youths started beating him, said Hanif’s younger sister Lily Akhter.
They also attacked Hanif ‘s sisters and mother as they went to rescue him.
When police came in aid of Hanif, the youths identifying them as army personnel started beating the policemen, Lily said. Later, top police officials came to the spot and quelled the situation.
Police took Hanif to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital around 1:00pm and then shifted him to Al Fuad Al Khatib Hospital in the town after his condition deteriorated.
Tofael Ahmed, assistant superintendent of police in Cox’s Bazar, confirmed that two policemen were also beaten by army members.
Army sources, however, said some 56 army members from Ramu Garrison in civil dress were playing football at Sugandha point. At one stage, the ball hit a woman triggering an altercation between her husband and those playing football.
Asked about the reason behind the attack on tourists, an army officer preferring anonymity said if the army men were proved guilty, legal action would be taken against them.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
