17 Magura houses torched in AL infighting

At least 17 houses were set ablaze following a fierce clash between two factions of Awami League at Balidia union in Mohammadpur upazila in Magura last night.

A five-hour clash between the supporters of Balidia UP chairman and local AL leader Hafizur Rahman and another AL leader Yunus Shikder over establishing supremacy in the union left 30 people injured from both sides at noon.

Twenty houses and four shops were vandalised during the clash. Later, police brought the situation under control firing rubber bullets and tear gas shells.

As a sequel to the clash, the rival AL men set fire to each other’s house in the evening. On information, local fire fighting units rushed to the spot and doused the blaze.

Mohammadpur thana officer-in-charge Motiar Rahman confirmed the incident.

Additional police have been deployed in the area.