Males flee to avoid arrest

Following the double murder over occupying a government land at Lamua village in Sadar upazila on Saturday, tension and panic have gripped the area and most of the males have gone into hiding to avoid arrest.

Police have detained 18 people from the village for their alleged involvement in the clash that led to the double murder.

Meanwhile, two separate cases were filed on Sunday night accusing over 100 unnamed villagers.

"Most males of the village fled their homes by launch in fear of arrest in connection with the clash," Sanu Miah of Lamua village said.

"We are passing our days in panic as all the accused in the two cases are unnamed," another local Moinul Islam said.

Moulvibazar Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sahajalal said there is nothing to be panicky about as only the guilty will face action after investigation.

He said people involved in the incident will not be spared but no innocent will face any harassment.

Many women of the village said their husbands had gone into hiding as police are often raiding the area.

Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station Harun-ur-Rashid refused to give any details of the two cases.

Two men were killed and 25 others injured in a clash between two groups of villagers on Saturday.

The deceased are Abdul Malik, 54, of Lamua village, and Shafiqur Rahman, 25, of adjacent Purbo Khalilpur village.

Police said two rival groups led by Lekash Mia and Sadbar Mia of the village locked in a clash around 11:00am over occupying a government land and establishing supremacy in the area.