10 burnt alive at Mirpur

At least 10 people, including four women and four children, were burnt to death in a fire during a series of clashes between two groups of people over blasting crackers at Kurmitola ‘Bihari’ camp at Kalshi in the city on Saturday. Nine of the deceased were identified as Baby, Lalu, his brother Bhulu, Sahanara, her five years old boy, Roksana, Afsana, Farzana and Ashique. Imtiaz Ahmed, deputy commissioner (Mirpur division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said a chase and counter-chase took place between two groups of ‘Biharis’ (stranded Pakistanis) over blasting crackers at Kurmitola Bihari Camp on the night of Shab-e-Barat early Saturday. At one stage, both groups hurled brickbats at each other, triggering a series of clashes. Being informed, police rushed in and resorted to baton charge, lobbed teargas shells and fired robber bullets to disperse the clashing groups. Later clashes took place repeatedly between the ‘Biharis’ and police. It could not be confirmed whether the fire was set by the clashers or erupted accidentally, said Imtiaz Ahmed, adding police have detained at least 50 people in connection with the incident. ‘We have heard that there were some casualties but could not yet retrieve any body,’ he said further. Besides, Mohammad Munnaf, joint secretary of the Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee KTC branch of Kurmitola Bihari camp at Mirpur-12, said the 10 were burnt alive during the clashes. The bodies were kept inside the KTC branch office. On information, two fire service units came in and doused the blaze. Meanwhile, intelligence sources confirmed death of nine people. One intelligence official requesting anonymity said all the bodies have been kept inside Kurmitola Bihari camp, according to UNB.