Murder accused kills witness, injures nine of a family

A murder witness was killed and 9 others belonging to his family injured in an attack led by an accused in the murder case in Morrelganj upazila early yesterday.

The incident took place around 3:00am in Kumarakhali village under Ramchandrapur union of the upazila. 

Morrelganj police said during a raid in Pirojpur, they arrested two individuals -- Montu Mollah, an accused in Enayet Sikder murder case; and Jafar Sheikh -- in this connection.

The deceased is Abdus Salam Sardar, 35, son of Erfan Sardar from Kumarakhali village.

His cousin Solaiman Sardar said Montu Mollah and Kabir Mollah, two of the accused in the Enayet murder case, attacked their house because six of their family members, including his cousin Salam Sardar, were witnesses to the murder.    

The attackers fired seven shots from firearms and injured the members of his family with sharp weapons while they were asleep.  

Locals came to their rescue and sent the injured to Khulna Medical College Hospital, he said, adding that Salam Sardar died on way to the hospital.

Requesting not to be named, a few locals said the Sardars and the Mollahs had previously engaged in attacks on each other over political rivalry.

Three years ago, members of the Sardar family severely injured Montaj Mollah, a member of the Mollah family, they added.  

Confirming the death and injuries in yesterday’s incident, Morrelganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge KM Azizul Islam said they would produce the two arrestees before the court soon.

Additional Superintendent of Police in Bagerhat Riazul Islam said they were conducting drives to arrest the others involved in the attack.