Protests in Bangladesh over Indian dam project

DHAKA: Nearly a dozen people were injured when scores of protesters, including women tried to gate crash into the Indian High Commission here demanding scrapping of the cross-border Tipaimukh Dam project, police said.

Cases were filed against 30 people including their two arrested leaders for "attempts to intrude the (Indian) High Commission using force and preventing policemen from discharging their duties," police added. The clash also left three policemen injured.

Nearly 35 protesters belonging to a left-leaning group 'Lamp Post' tried to enter into the High Commission complex at posh Gulshan area, chanting slogans and demanding withdrawal of Indian envoy Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty's. They also protested against alleged "killings of Bangladeshis' in frontier villages by the BSF."

Extra policemen were immediately rushed to the scene as the protesters clashed with the security men, police sub-inspector Rafiqul Islam said.

He said the protesters fled the scene while two of their leaders Ashish Koraia and Golam Mohammad Prince were arrested.

Indian High Commission officials declined to comment on the incident but a diplomat preferring anonymity said, "We heard that some people were injured outside our office."