Several hundred Bangalees in Bogura's Sherpur upazila yesterday attempted to carry out an attack on indigenous people following a land dispute.

However, the attempt was foiled by police.

Locals said there has been a rivalry between indigenous Turi, Singh, Mahato and Barmon communities and Bangalees over a piece of land in Amboil village.

The indigenous people claim the land belongs to them while the local Bangalees deny it.

On Sunday morning, the two sides got locked into a clash that left at least 30 people injured.

Later on Tuesday, Sherpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sanjida Sultana arranged an arbitration at her office, directing all to refrain from violence and settle the matter through discussion.

But several hundreds of Bangalees yesterday morning gathered in Amboil village with bamboo sticks around 11:30am yesterday. Others from neighbouring Balenda and Gorta Uttar Para villages also joined them, said witnesses.

"They were urging people through loudspeakers of mosques to gather and carry out an attack on us," said Santosh Singh Babu, an indigenous community member.

"They are trying to forcibly occupy our land by spreading communal hatred," said Santosh, also president of Bogura District Adivasi Parishad.

He also alleged that Bangalees beat up two indigenous youths, Sujan Singh, 25, and Ujjal Singh, 32, yesterday morning.

However, local Bangalees denied the allegations and said the indigenous people first beat up a Bangalee youth triggering the chaos.

"They [indigenous people] first beat up one of our men, who is physically-challenged, this [yesterday] morning. His name is Faruk. Even, they were preparing to attack on us. In retaliation, we gathered to resist their attack," said Sujan Miah, 30, a resident of Amboil.

Contacted, OC Ataur Rahman of Sherpur Police Station said the law enforcers rushed to spot on information and dispersed the crowd. Additional police have been deployed in the area.

UNO Sanjida Sultana said she arranged the meeting on Tuesday and asked lawyers of both the groups to appear before her office within 10 days with valid documents in support of their ownership claim of the land.

"We have asked both the groups not to resort to violence. But they have created chaos again today. Police have been kept alert," she told The Daily Star yesterday.