Staff Correspondent:
A group of people in Bogura’s Sherpur Upazila attacked the car of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Liaquat Ali Sheikh because he obstructed illegal sand extraction from Bangali river in Bogura this afternoon.

Two of the assistants of the UNO were also injured in the attack that took place in Boroitoli Naldangi village on Saturday evening.

On information that someone was extracting sand illegally from the Bangali river in Gazaria village, the UNO and some other members went to the spot around 5:00 pm.

“When I reached the spot, I didn’t notice the sand extraction machine, but I saw at least 500 meters of sand extracting pipes. I urged the villagers to remove the pipes from the river but they refused.”

“I asked my two assistants to remove the pipes but then over 100 men and women gathered at the spot and started vandalising our vehicle and attacked my two assistants with bamboo sticks and brick chips,” he said.

The agitated villagers also confined them till 6:00 pm, said the UNO.

Glazier Rahman, additional superintendent of police (Sherpur circle), said the attackers did not beat up the UNO, but injured his two assistants.

Police have already detained six people for interrogation in this connection, he said.

“We are trying to find out who was extracting the sand from the river. It was being extracted to make a road in the village as far as we know.”

Preparation is on to file a case against the attackers, the UNO said.

Police have detained six people in connection with the attack.

The UNO said upon information they conducted a drive to stop extracting sand illegally from the Bangali River.

Reaching the spot, they found no sand lifters but the equipment which were being used to the purpose, he said.

When they started to break the equipment, the associates of the sand lifters attacked them and vandalized the car, the UNO said.

They also beat up Ujjal Mohant, office assistant of the Upazila land office, and Manjurul Haque, a security guard, in the incident.

They were taken to Sherpur Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

Sherpur police station Inspector (Investigation) SM Abul Kalam Azad said they sent additional forces to bring the situation under control.

“Meanwhile, we apprehended eight people for their involvement in the attack.”

A case was filed against nearly 100 people citing 14 names, he added.