At least four people including two police personnel were reportedly killed and over 200 others injured in clashes between ready-made garment workers and law enforcers at Ershadnagar of Tongi in Gazipur on Saturday.

Details about the deaths of two police personnel were not available immediately, but sources said uniforms of two female police, who might have died during the clashes, were found on the spot. The clashes erupted at about 8:00am when around 3000 workers of Nippon Garment in that area launched agitation demanding their due salaries. During clashes, police fired over 200 rounds of bullet to disperse the demonstrators who retaliated with pelting brick chips.

Witnesses said the angry workers ransacked over 30 vehicles and torched another after putting barricades on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Tongi. Till filing of this report, the clashes were on at about 11:30am. Fire officials said two fire fighting units had to return from the spot at resistance of the workers. Sources said the death toll might rise as well as the number of injuries.

Contacted, Gazipur Superintendent of Police and Office-in-charge of Tongi Police Station Tapan Chandra Saha told The Daily Star that they were yet to confirm the number of the dead and injured as clashes were on. Witnesses said the clashes between 3000 workers and several hundred police turned the entire area into a battleground as the sounds of firing were shaking the area.

-Daily Star