Gunfight over control of market leaves 20 injured

At least 20 people were injured, nine of them bullet-hit, in a gun battle between two factions of Awami League over taking control of Shanikdia Haat in Sadar upazila of the district on Monday.

Police said there was a longstanding conflict between Aslam Hossain, general secretary of Hemayetpur union unit of AL, and Panna Sarkar, another local leader of the party, over the issue.

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A gun battle took place around 10:00pm on Monday when supporters of Aslam swooped on Panna's men at a local tea stall in the area. At least 20 people from both sides were injured during the incident.

Of them, Abdus Samad, 28, Billal Hossain, 40, Mizan Malitha, 30, Bablu Pramanik, 23, Ripon Khan, 14, Dablu Pramanik, 35, Shahin Pramanik, 30, Abdul Matin, 45, Sabur, 35, Johura Khatun, 55, were admitted to Pabna General Hospital. Critically injured Billal was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

As tension mounted in the area, additional police have been deployed in the area to avert any further trouble, said Md Ahsanul Haque, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.

Meanwhile, the district AL leaders claimed that this is not party conflict.

Contacted, Rezaur Rahim Lal, vice president of the district unit of AL, said the clash took place over a personal issue.

In Benapole, at least two people were injured in a clash between two groups of cattle traders over keeping control of a local cattle market in Goga border area under Sharsha upazila of Jessore district the same day, reports UNB.

Sub-Inspector Syed Bayejit said Md Rashid, chairman of Goga Union Parishad, had long been at loggerheads with Babul Sardar, a local cattle trader, over taking control in the market.

As a sequel to the conflict, supporters of Rashid, confined Billal, supporter of Babul, around 9:00pm, added the SI.

As the news of Billal's confinement spread, supporters of Babul Sardar locked in a clash with Rashid's supporters as they went to rescue Billal from their custody, leaving two people injured, he added.

Five crude bombs were blasted during the clash.

Being informed, police rushed in and brought the situation under control, said OC of Sharsha Police Station Enamul Haque.