10 injured in the clashes at Shah Poran shrine in Sylhet

At least 10 people were injured in clashes during the Urs procession at the Shah Poran Mazhar in Sylhet yesterday afternoon.

The army intervened in the early hours this morning and brought the situation under control. 

According to locals and eyewitnesses, the clashes centred on the annual Urs observation.

Earlier, a group of people under the banner of “Sylhet Alem Samaj” held meetings with the management committee of Shah Poran shrine and mosque and warned against “anti-social behaviour” in the name of Urs. 

The committee leaders promised that there would be no anti-social behaviour. 

Amid this tense backdrop, the procession began some three days ago.

The group under the Sylhet Alem Samaj banner positioned themselves in the shrine area from the first day. On the third day, the clash broke out, with each side claiming the other had provoked the fracas. 

As news of the fighting spread, hundreds of people from the nearby Haripur area of ​​Jaintiapur Upazila came with sticks and joined the fray. 

Meanwhile, the tents of people coming to the Urs were also demolished. 

Ten to 12 people were injured in the ensuing clashes. The army team reached the spot around 4:30am today and brought it under control.

Locals claimed police left the scene when tensions began.

No statement from the shrine committee has been given in this matter.

Shah Poran Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Harunur Rashid Chowdhury said a group of miscreants attacked the shrine around 3pm on Monday, vandalising it.

They also attacked the police who went to stop the vandalism.

He, however, said the identity of the perpetrators could not be known at this time.

“Efforts are underway to bring those involved under the law. No one has been arrested in this incident yet,” he said.