AL infighting leaves one dead, 30 hurt in Magura

An Awami League (AL) activist was killed and 30 others were injured during a clash between two groups of the ruling party's local unit in Shatrujitpur union of Mugura Sadar upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Nannu Hossain, 40, of Rupdah-Sundarpur village in the upazila.

Police and locals said there had been a longstanding conflict between the two groups--one led by AL Shatrujitpur union unit vice president Salam Haji and the other by general secretary Eklas Hossain--over establishing supremacy in the union.

In the Sadar Upazila Parishad election held on July 21, the supporters of Salam Haji campaigned for AL-backed chairman candidate Rostom Ali while the supporters of Eklas Hossain campaigned on behalf of district AL vice- president Abu Nasir Bablu. Rostom Ali won the election.

The trouble began around 10:30am when some AL men belonging to the two rival groups locked in an altercation over the election issue at Rupdah-Sundarpur village. Hearing the news, the supporters of Salam and Eklas rushed to the spot and swooped on each other.

At least 31 people from both sides were injured during the clash that lasted for an hour. Of the injured, 20 were admitted to Magura Sadar Hospital where Nannu, a supporter of Eklas, succumbed to his injuries soon after admission. The rest of the injured were given first aid at the hospital.

At least 25 houses were looted and vandalised during the clash.

Sudarshan Kumar Roy, ASP of Magura Sadar Circle, said police had to fire rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the clashing groups. Additional police have been deployed there, he added.