Clash over stalking leaves 30 hurt in Habiganj

At least 30 people were injured in a clash between two groups of people over stalking of a housewife in Baniarchang upazila of Habiganj district on Monday night.

Of the injured, 15 were admitted to Habiganj Sadar Hospital in a critical condition while the rest treated at a local health complex.

Police and witnesses said Nazrul Islam, son of Sirish Ali of Ikram village, had been stalking a housewife of the village for three months.

Locals said Nazrul entered the woman's house on Sunday night while her husband was visiting a relative's house in a nearby village around 8:00pm. When the housewife started screaming neighbours rushed to her house, but Nazrul managed to flee.

Following an altercation between two groups of villagers over the issue, they, equipped with sharp weapons, then locked in a clash that lasted for about an hour, leaving at least 30 people from both sides injured.

On information, police went to the village and fired rubber bullets and teargas shells to bring the situation under control.

Amullay Kumar Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Baniarchang Police Station, said police have been deployed in the area to  avert further untoward incident.

Away in Dinajpur, a mobile court on Tuesday jailed a youth for 15 days for stalking a housewife in Khansama upazila, reports our correspondent.

The convict is Monwar Hossain, 22, son of late Balia Rahman of Haldipara village under the upazila.

Locals of Haldipara village caught the youth red-handed while he was stalking the housewife there at around 11:30am. Later, he was handed over to the police, who produced him before the court.

The court, led by Executive Magistrate Sajebur Rahman, found Monwar guilty and sentenced him to 15 days imprisonment.