17 injured as Faridpur AL factions clash

At least 17 people were injured in a clash between two groups of ruling Awami League (AL)  men over establishing supremacy in Saltha upazila yesterday.

Of the injured, some were admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital while the others took treatment at Nagorkanda Upazila Health Complex.

Quoting villagers, police said there had been a longstanding rivalry between Majardia Union Parishad Chairman Habibur Rahman and Selim Matabbor, organising secretary of Majardia Union unit AL, over establishing supremacy in the locality.

The clash occurred when one of Salim's supporters slapped a follower of Habibur at Majardia Bazar on Friday evening.

As a sequel, both the groups equipped with sharp weapons attacked each other, leaving 17 people from both sides injured.

Selim said the chairman and his men attacked his supporters in a bid to take revenge as one of his supporters joined the opposit group recently while Habibur claimed that Selim's men beat his supporter at Majardia Bazar.