2 killed in Kushtia AL infighting

Two Awami League activists were killed and around 30 people injured in a factional clash over establishing supremacy in Majhpara village of Kushtia Sadar upazila yesterday.

The dead are Iman Ali, 35, of Majhpara and Sahabuddin, 55, of Baidyanathpur.

Sub-inspector Atiqur Rahman, in-charge of Abdalpur Police Camp, said several hundred supporters of Jhaudia Union Parishad Chairman Keramat Ali got locked in a clash with supporters of Bokhtiar Hossain, a former chairman of the union, around 9:00am.

Bokhtiar is also the president of Jhaudia union AL, while Keramat is the joint secretary of Kushtia Sadar upazila AL.

Police said there had been a longstanding rivalry between the two AL leaders over establishing supremacy in the area. Things got worse after Keramat was elected the UP chairman as an independent candidate in June 11, defeating AL nominee Bokhtiar.

The rival groups used arms and sharp weapons during the hour-long clash yesterday. They also vandalised at least 25 houses in the village, some 36 kilometres off Kushtia town.

According to police, the two dead were supporters of Keramat and activists of Jhaudia union AL. Iman died of bullet wounds while Sahabuddin of hacking injuries. 

Many of the injured received treatment at Kushtia General Hospital and private clinics in the town.

Proloy Chisim, Kushtia superintendent of police, and Zoynul Abedin, additional superintendent of police, rushed to the spot around 10:00am.

Zoynul said law enforcers later brought the situation under control. Additional police forces were deployed at the village to avert any law and order situation.

Autopsies were carried out on the bodies of the two AL men at Kushtia General Hospital in the afternoon. Police later handed over the bodies to the deceased's families.

Preparations were underway last night for filing two cases with Kushtia Islamic University Police Station in this regard.