20 hurt as 'smugglers' clash in Lalmonirhat

Three of the injured- Faruk, Dalu and Vullu--have been admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital in critical conditions, police and hospital sources said. The rest were treated at the local health complex.

The injured include Malek, Soharab, Dinesh, Hares, Hanif, Mamun, Munshi, Halim, Faysal, Gani, Waris, Rishad, Habu, Sumon and Chhatku, all from Karnopur and Kumartary villages under Mogolhat union.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Police and local people said the groups also smuggle hemp, wine, spices, cloth, vehicle spares and by-cycle from India.

Police said a case was yet to be filed.

There are several godfathers of smugglers who control and guide organised gangs of smugglers, they alleged.

At least 5,000 bottles of phensydil and 20 kilograms of hemp and other drugs are smuggled into the country through Mogolhat and Durgapur border every day, they claimed.

Contacted over telephone, the BDR command at Lalmonirhat denied the allegation.