At least five persons were injured in a clash between two groups following price hike of salt at Manikdi under Cantonment thana in the city yesterday.

Meanwhile, police arrested five salt traders for their alleged involvement in hiking salt price from a market at the city's Mirpur area Sunday evening.

The authorities have alerted police to be on-the lookout for unscrupulous traders trying to hoard salt to make a windfall profit by creating an artificial crisis.

Hospital sources said the wounded four were identified as Asik Ahmed Babu. 25. Babul Mia Shikdar, 28, Salekh Ahmed, 64. and Babul Aktar, 32. They were admitted at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Shafiuddin. Commissioner of Ward No. 15, sent Asik and Babul Mia with some other persons to visit the Balughat Market to gather information about the price hike of salt at about 10 am. the sources added.

There they had an alterca-| tion with the salt traders. For-I mer principal^f Balughat High I School Salekh Ahmed and his son Babul Akhter also joined I the salt traders.

At one stage both the groups were locked in a scuffle and they chased each other in which the five persons were injured.

However, none was arrested in connection with the incident till last night. A case was lodged with Cantonment thana in this regard.

Meanwhile, police said the 5 persons arrested were identified as Hanif. Ershadullah, Jamal. Harun and Jashim. They were &roduced before the Chief letropolitan Magistrate’s court yesterday.

During a raid Mirpur police arrested them while they were selling salt at a higher price at Muktijoddah Market that evening.

A general diary was lodged with Mirpur thana in this regard.