100 injured in Habiganj clash over water body occupation
Around 100 people including five policemen were injured as two groups of people locked in a fierce clash at Guharuha village over occupation of a government owned water body in Bahubol upazila of Habiganj on Tuesday evening.
Of the injured, 14 people were admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital and 32 people to Habiganj Sadar Hospital, police and locals said.
Thirty-five others, including Alamgir Kabir, officer in charge (OC-Investigation) of the police station, sub-inspectors Sajib Ahmed, 30, and Rahim Mia, 40, and constables Raju, 26, and Rajib, 25, were admitted to Bahubol Upazila Health Complex.
Former union parishad member Shafiq Mia and Siraj Mia, both residents of Guharuha village, had been at loggerheads over the occupation of a water body near the village, said Parvej Alam Chowdhury, senior assistant police superintendent of Habiganj.
“Supporters of the two sides locked in a clash around 11:00am on Tuesday following an altercation. More than five people were injured during the incident. As a sequel, the groups armed with spears and bamboo sticks locked in a clash again in the evening, which left more than 100 people injured,” said Md Masuk Ali, OC of Bahubol Police Station.
Contacted, Siraj Mia said Shafiq Mia group attacked them as they protested occupation of the government water body.
Shafiq Mia, on the other hand, claimed that Siraj Mia kept the water body occupied for a long time.
“We did not attack them. Rather, they attacked us,” he said.
OC Md Masuk Ali said, “Being informed, police from Bahubol Police Station went to the spot and fired 48 rounds of bullets and 13 rounds of teargas shells to bring the situation under control. At this time five policemen including OC (Investigation) Alamgir Kabir and two sub-inspectors were injured.”
“Fifteen people were detained for their suspected involvement with the clashes. Police filed a case against 65 named and unnamed 100 to 150 people as locals attacked cops on the spot. A police team has been deployed at the village to avert further clash,” he said.
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