Man killed as villagers clash in Faridpur

A man was killed and at least 50 other people, including eight policemen, were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over establishing supremacy in Faridpur's Sadarpur upazila yesterday.

Police fired over 100 bullets and 17 teargas shells to bring the situation under control.

The deceased was identified as Mannan Sikder, 60, son of Kosim Uddin Sikder of Radhanagor village of the same upazila.

Locals said there has been a longstanding conflict between Fakir Balal Hossain, chairman of Krisnapur Union Parishad and also the  secretary general of Krisnapur Awami League, and Abdul Kaium, a former chairman of the same union parishad.

This year, a supporter of Kaium got the lease of Krishnapur Bazar for a year on April 9. Last year, the lease had been awarded to Fakir Balal Hossain.

Tension had been rife in the area since then.

The clash broke out around 6:00am yesterday.

Equipped with lethal weapons, About 400 people from both the sides clashed for around four hours, leaving Mannan dead.

On information, police rushed to spot and brought the situation under control.