40 hurt, 25 houses vandalised in AL infighting

At least 40 people were injured and 25 houses vandalised in a clash between two rival factions of Awami League (AL) at Beljani village in Boalmari upazila of the district yesterday.

Locals said there was a longstanding conflict between Alauddin Mattabor, president of ward no 4 unit of AL, and Md Sobuj, a member of Moyna Union Parishad and also an activist of the unit, over establishing supremacy in the locality.

On Sunday, some supporters of Sobuj attacked Abdur Rouf Mattabor, a supporter of Alauddin Mattabor. Babul Matabbor, son of Abdur Rouf Mattabor, then filed a case with Boalmari Police Station against 51 people.

After the incident, the men of the two rivals attacked each other with lethal weapons yesterday evening, leaving at least 40 people from both sides injured. Twenty-five houses were also damaged during the incident.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Md Saifuddin, sub-inspector (SI) of the police station.

The injured were admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and Boalmari Upazila Health Complex.

Alauddin Mattabor and Sobuj blamed each other for the incident.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to avert any further trouble, said the SI.