Clashes leave one dead, 55 injured

A man was killed and 55 others were injured in clashes in Sirajganj and Habiganj districts yesterday and the day before.

In Sirajganj, two rival groups clashed in Hosaepur area under Sadar upazila yesterday, leaving a man dead and at least 10 others injured. Five houses were also vandalised during the clash, reports our Pabna correspondent.

The deceased was identified as Babu Hossain, 30, son of Akbar Ali of Puthiabari village in the upazila.  

Police and locals said there had been a longstanding conflict between two groups—one led by Abu Bakkar of Puthiabari village and the other by Ujjal Hossain of Hosenpur village--over establishing their supremacy in the area.

As a sequel to the conflict, the two rival groups swooped on each other yesterday noon, leaving Babu of Bakkar group dead on the spot and 10 others from both sides injured.

On information, police rushed to the spot and fired 30 blank shots to bring the situation under control, said Officer-in-Charge of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station Md Habibul Islam.

The body was sent to Sirajganj General Hospital morgue for autopsy, said the OC.

In Habiganj, at least 45 people were injured in a clash between two groups over a piece of disputed land at Khatura village in Madhabpur upazila of the district on Sunday, reports our Moulvibazar correspondent.

Police and locals said an altercation took place between the men of one Fazal Miah, 45, of the village, and Khalilur Rahman, 42, a member of Jagadishpur Union Parishad, over the land.

At one stage, the two groups attacked each other with lethal weapons, leaving at least 45 people from both side injured.