A school headmaster, UNO and local journalist were among a group of villagers allegedly beaten up by local Awami League and Jubo League leaders as he protested their illegally occupying a fish enclosure in Wazirpur upazila of Barishal on Friday, said police.
According to the locals, Wazirpur upazila Awami League Organising Secretary Mashiur Mia and his younger brother Jubo League leader Monir Mia have been cultivating fish occupying fish enclosures belonging to others, including the school teacher, in Patibari village of the upazila.
The victim, Ujjwal Kumar Mandal, headmaster of Rajihar Secondary School in Agailjhara upazila, said the local owners, including him, were protesting the illegal grabbing of the enclosure on Friday afternoon.
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“Enraged by this, Monir and Mashiur beat me and UP member Amal Mandal,” he said, adding that they also vandalised Ujjwal’s shop and looted Tk 5 lakh.
They also assaulted a local journalist, he said.
In this regard, Mohammad Momen, inspector of Wazirpur police station, said legal action will be taken after investigating the matter.