3 killed, over 100 hurt in clashes in several dists

A house was in flames at Ghosher Char village in Gopalganj Sadar upazila, one of the houses vandalised at Amtoli village in Sreepur upazila of Magura and a similar one at Ichhamoti village in Sirajganj Sadar upazila during clashes between rival groups yesterday and the day before.Photo: STAR

Three people were killed and over 100 injured in clashes between rival groups of villagers over capture of khas and disputed land and establishing supremacy in their respective areas in the last four days in Jhenidah, Pabna, Gopalganj, Sirajganj, Magura and Chapainawabganj districts.
The dead were identified as Abdul Kuddus alias Mongla, 40, of Nagirat village in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenidah, Imran Ali, 35, of Uttar Masimpur village in Pabna Sadar upazila, and Akfar Mollah, 65, of Ghosher Char in Gopalganj Sadar upazila.
At least 150 houses were vandalised and 50 of them set afire during the clashes in the districts.
Our Jhenidah correspondent reported that a man was killed and 15 were injured in a clash between two rival groups of villagers at Nagirat village in Shailkupa upazila on Eid Day.
Police and locals said two groups of villagers--one led by Linkon Hossain and the other by Minto Mia--have a rivalry over establishing supremacy at the village.
On Eid Day, Minto's men beat up Anisur Rahman, a supporter of Linkon, while he was returning home after offering Eid prayers at around 9:00am.
As a sequel to the incident, the two rival groups equipped with iron rod, billhooks and spears attacked each other, leaving Abdul Kuddus alias Mongla of Linkon group dead and 15 others from both sides injured.
Linkon's men later vandalised at least 30 houses of their rivals. Following a murder case filed by Linkon group, police arrested one Moksed Ali of Minto group yesterday.
The injured are undergoing treatment at the upazila health complex.
In Pabna, a man was killed and five others were injured in a clash between two rival groups over capture of disputed land at Uttar Masimpur village under Sadar upazila on Tuesday morning, reports our correspondent.
The dead is Imran Ali, 35, of the village. He succumbed to his injuries at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) at noon.
Police and locals said Abbas Ali and Abdul Jalil of Uttar Masimpur village have been claiming the ownership of a land at the village for long. The supporters of the two clashed over capture of the land at around 10:00am, injuring five people.
Of the injured, Imran Ali of Abbas group died at RMCH. Hearing the news of imran's death, the supporters of Abbas set houses of Abdul Jalil, Intaz Ali, Taiz Uddin and Azam Ali of Abdul Jalil group on fire.
On Information, police went to the village and brought the situation under control.
No case in connection with the incident was filed with Sadar Police Station as of 5:00pm yesterday. Police have been deployed at the village to avert any further untoward incident.
According to our Sirajganj correspondent, two groups of villagers--one led by Abu Sayeed and the other by Asadul Islam and Manjurul Islam-clashed over capture of 35 bighas of khas land at Ichamati village under Sadar upazila on Saturday.
The clash ensued at around 11:00am as the two rival groups, equipped with lethal weapons, tried to capture the land. The clash continued for two hours, leaving at least 50 people from both sides injured. At least 35 houses were vandalised and two of them set on fire during the clash.
Being informed, police went to the spot and dispersed the clashing groups. The injured were admitted to Sadar upazila heath complex and Sirajganj General Hospital. Police have been deployed in the area.
In Magura, clashes between two rival groups at Patkelbari village in Sadar upazila and Amtoil village in Sreepur upazila yesterday left at least 30 people injured, reports our correspondent.
Forty-five houses at the two villages were vandalised during the clashes.
Police quoted the people of Amtoli village as saying that the clash was a sequel to an attack on two people of UP member Mozzamel Hossain group by their rivals belonging to Rafiqul Islam group on Eid Day.
Both groups used lethal weapons during the clash that lasted for one and a half hours from 10:00am. At least 25 houses were vandalised during the clash. Police fired teargas shells to disperse the clashing groups.
Seven of the injured were admitted to Magura Sadar Hospital while the rest to Sreepur Upazila Health Complex.
At Patkelbari village in Sadar upazila, 20 houses were ransacked in an attack at the village by the people of adjacent Beroil village yesterday noon.
Police said the attack was a sequel to clash between the people of the two villages over a football match held on Saturday. Police brought the situation under control and picked up five attackers from the village.
In Chapainawabganj, At least 20 people were injured and 25 shops vandalised and looted during a clash between two groups of villagers over establishing supremacy in Binodpur area under Shibganj upazila on Saturday, says our correspondent.
Police said the clash erupted at a meeting at Binodpur Bazar at around 5:30pm. Golam Kibria, a lecturer of Binodpur College, convened the meeting to settle a dispute between two rival groups over appointing a Imam of Binodpur Eidgah.
When the meeting was in progress, the supporters of Enamul Haque equipped with bricks and bamboo sticks attacked Delwar Hossain's men, prompting them to retaliate.
At least 20 people from both sides were injured 25 shops at Binodpur Bazar looted and vandalised during the clash.
One person was killed and at least 16 people were injured as two rival groups of villagers clashed following an altercation over having a sugarcane from a field at Ghosher Char village in Gopalganj Sadar upazila on Tuesday, according to a correspondent.
The dead was identified as Akfar Mollah, 65. At least 50 houses of the supporters of two rival groups were set afire during the clash.
The injured were admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital, Gopalganj Sadar Hospital and private clinics in the district town.
Following a case filed by Abul Hasan Mollah yesterday, law enforcers from Sadar Police Station arrested 25 people. People of Ghosher Char village fled their homes yesterday fearing arrest by police and fresh attack by their rivals.
Officer-in-Charge Borhan Uddin of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station said the clash was a sequel to a long-standing rivalry between two groups-one led by Thanda Mollah and the other by Ganjar Mollah--over establishing supremacy at the village.
The two groups also clashed twice during Ramadan and had a plan to attack each other at Eid congregation at the village, the OC said.
Additional DIG of Police Nuruzzaman, Deputy Commissioner of Gopalganj Sheikh Yusuf Harun Police Superintendent Mizanur Rahman, Gopalganj municipality Mayor Rezaul Haque Sikder Raju yesterday visited the village.
The district administration yesterday gave 10 kg of rice and Tk 5,000 to each of the affected families.