Row Over Waterbody: 3 shot dead in Sunamganj clash
Three people were allegedly shot dead and at least 12 others injured during a clash between two groups of people in Dirai upazila of Sunamganj over taking control of a waterbody yesterday.
The dead are Tajul Islam, 35, son of Shan Ullah of Jarulia village, Shaharul Islam, 25, son of Ishak Miah, and Uzzal, 28, son of Amanullah, of Akhilnagar village.
Abdul Jalil, officer-in-charge of Dirai Police Station, said Ekrar Hossain and his men, equipped with local weapons, went to grab the waterbody for fishing in Jarulia village around 1:30pm. But the waterbody was leased to local Dakkhin Nagergaon Matsyajibi Samabay Samity Ltd.
The clash ensued as the men of the Samabay Samity tried to resist Ekrar and his men from grabbing the waterbody, said the OC.
Tajul, Shaharul and Uzzal suffered bullet injuries. Shaharul and Uzzal died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and Tajul at Dirai Upazila Health Complex, the police official said.
The other injured were admitted to hospitals.
Contacted, Badrul Azad Rana, brother of Ekrar, said there had been a longstanding conflict between Ekrar and Dhananjay Sarkar, general secretary of Dakkhin Nagergaon Matsyajibi Samabay Samity Ltd, over taking possession of the waterbody.
He alleged that men of their rival group opened fire during the clash.
When the incident happened, Dirai municipality Mayor Mosharraf Miah and Dirai upazila Chairman Hafizur Rahman were present on the spot. Both Mosharraf and Hafizur supported the activities of the Samabay Samity, Rana also alleged.
Talking to The Daily Star, both Mosharraf and Hafizur denied the allegation of their presence on the spot. They also claimed that they did not know the reason behind yesterday's incident.
This newspaper could not contact Dhananjay for his comment over the conflict with Ekrar.
In another incident, 50 people were wounded in a clash between two groups of villagers over land grabbing in Manashinagar village of Sylhet Sadar upazila yesterday morning.
Locals said the clash broke out when Jain Uddin and his men tried to grab a piece of land of Ajman Ali of the village.
The wounded were undergoing treatment at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
The situation was brought under control later, said Akhter Hossain, officer-in-charge of Jalalabad Police Station.
Comments