1 killed, 50 houses gutted, 30 injured in Habiganj

A youth was killed, 50 houses were torched and around 30 people injured in clashes between groups of villagers in two upazilas of Habiganj district.

In Bahubal upazila, police and witnesses said there was a longstanding dispute between Tobarak Miah, 45, of Noyo village and Khurshed Miah of nearby Mudaharpur village over a piece of land.

As a sequel to the dispute, the two groups engaged in a clash at around 11:00am yesterday, in which around 30 people were injured.

Of them, 15 were rushed to Bahubal Upazila Health Complex while seven were sent to Habiganj Sadar Hospital in critical condition.

"We rushed to the spot and fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control," said Mossaraf Hosain, officer-in-charge of Bahubal Police Station.

In Habiganj Sadar upazila, at least 50 houses were torched over the death of a youth at Chotto Bahula village in the upazila on Friday.

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, an altercation broke out between supporters of one Altaf Miah, 34, of Chotto Bahula village and Kutub Uddin, 45, of the same village over a land dispute in the morning.

Police and locals said there had been a longstanding dispute between the two groups over the matter.

One ear of Kutub Uddin was severed by the rivals two months ago, locals said.

In retaliation, Kutub Uddin's group cut off a ear and a hand of Abdul Aziz, a supporter of Altaf Miah, on February 19. Aziz succumbed to his injuries at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Friday.

Outraged by the death of Aziz, his group went berserk and set fire to 50 houses belonging to the rivals in the evening.

 Nazim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Habiganj Police Station, said, on information, Habiganj and Shayestaganj fire-fighting units rushed to the spot and doused the blaze in three hours.