Five shops and three houses were torched during the clash.

Quoting villagers, police said that one Jahangir of Penakhali village borrowed Tk 20,000 from Rasul Amin, chairman of Malikhali Union Parishad two years back.

Failing to realise the money, Rasul Amin filed a case against Jahanggir and 17 others with Nazirpur thana.

To settle the dispute, an arbitration meeting was called on Saturday in the morning. As it failed amid exchange of words between the two, their supporters, many of them armed, tookmon each other.

On information, police came from Matibhanga and Nazirpur thanas but failed to quell the violence.

Pirojpur Assistant Police Superintendent came with reinforcement and brought the situation under control.

Forty-two of the injured people were admitted to Nazirpur health complex. Condition of six is serious, police said. Tension is prevailing in the area.