The incident has created commotion in the upazila. Local people are now planning agitation, sources there said.

Villagers in Swarasati had earlier protested sand extraction from the riverbed there by Karia Enterprise using mechanized dredgers last week. A clash between the villagers and Karia men took place

Sunday last.

Following this, Karia Enterprise filed an extortion case with Golapganj thana against five youths of the village on Monday.

Sources said Karia Enterprise managed a license from the Bureau of Mineral Development (BMD) last year for sand extraction from Surma river.

Apprehending landslide and erosion along the bank in the area, people of Swarasati and neighbouring villages protested the illegal extraction.

Lawmaker from the area Syed Mokbul Hossain also wrote a letter to the State Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources to stop the "illegal sand extraction". The extraction remained suspended for a few days but started again, triggering protests by local people.

The BMD cancelled the license in the face of protests. The firm then went to the High Court and got a stay order on the BMD action.

Meanwhile, filing of the 'false' case was discussed at the Golapganj Upazila Law and Order Committee meeting held there on Tuesday. The committee agreed to look into the matter and decided to take steps for withdrawal of the 'false' case.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Shahidul Islam chaired the meeting, attended by Union Parishad chairmen.