Feud at Puja Mandop

100 hurt in fierce clash, 10 shops, house damaged

28 September 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Faridpur

Over 100 people were injured in a clash between two groups of people of Alfadanga and Boalmari upzailas at Alfadanga Bazar yesterday as a sequel to Sunday night's altercation between two groups of youths of the two upazilas at a puja mandop at Boalmari. Police and local sources said the trouble began on Sunday night when some young men from Alfadanga, who came to a puja mandop at Boalmari, exchanged heated words with a group of youths of Boalmari. Fearing further clash between the youths belonging to the two upazilas, Boalmari Upazila Parishad Vice-Chairman Syed Russel Reza called a meeting at Boalmari Bazar in the morning to settle the matter. But the both sides boycotted the meeting and locked in a fierce clash. The feuding groups used lethal weapons during the clash, leaving more than 100 people from both sides injured. Ten shops and one house were damaged and looted during the clash that continued for three hours from 9:00am, sources said. Police from Boalmari, Alfadanga and Faridpur went to the spot, charged baton, fired teargas shells and blank shots to bring the situation under control. The injured are undergoing treatment at Boalmari and Alfadanga health complexs. Rab and riot police have been deployed in the area to avert any further clash. District Superintendent of Police ( SP) Awlad Ali Fakir, upazila chairmen and political leaders visited the spot.