The bullet-hit businessmen were identified as Syed Montu, 35, Abul Bashar, 35, Nazrul, 30, Nayan, 20, Abdul Gani, 55, Rubel, 25, Muzibur Rahman, 25, Bashar, 30, and Dalim, 25.

They were rushed to Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (BSMCH), where they are struggling to survive. Rest of the injured took medical treatments from local hospital and clinics.

A gang of 20 to 25 armed robbers attacked the Bazaar (marketplace), about ten kilometers north to the upazila headquarters, looted cash from the shops of Montu Mia, Yunus Mia and Tara mia and created panic in the neighbourhood exploding home-made bombs and firing several rounds of blank shots, police and local sources said.

'Villagers from the neighbourng areas rushed to the Bazaar hearing the sound of blank fires. The villagers, in collaboration with the businessmen, surrounded the place trying to capture the robbers. The two parties then got into an hour-long clash that ended at 11:00 pm', they added.

The gang, however, managed to escape the spot leaving 25 of the villagers and businessmen seriously injured. Locals said most of the robbers were wearing masks.