12 hurt in Khulna clash between cops, jute mill workers

KHULNA, Oct 19 (UNB): At least 12 people, including three policemen, were injured in a clash between police and former jute mill workers on the Khulna-Jashore highway in the Khulna city on Monday morning.

Under the banner of Sammilito Nagorik Parishad, the workers blocked the highway in front of Eastern gate of the Atara Industrial area around 11am to press home their 14-point demand including reopening of 25 state-run jute mills soon.

Police came to the spot after a few minutes and tried to remove them from the highway, triggering the clash.

At one stage, police charged batons and fired teargas shells to disperse them from the road, leaving nine workers injured, said Kudrat-e-Khuda, convener of the parishad.

One of the injured workers was admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital.

At one stage, the demonstrators hurled brick chips at the law enforcers, leaving three of them injured.