Dispute Over Graveyard
Over 100 injured in Sirajganj clash
Over 100 people including four policemen were injured in a clash between two rival groups in the town yesterday over renaming a graveyard.
During the clash, the villagers damaged and ransacked 10 shops and set fire to five others. Police fired around 50 rubber bullets and hurled 100 tear gas shells to disperse the clashing groups.
Of the injured, 32 were admitted to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital, nine to Avicenna Hospital, seven to Community Hospital, eight to Medinova Hospital and 20 others to local clinics in the town. Besides, condition of Abdul Jalil and Ariful Islam is stated to be critical. They were sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, sources said.
Police and locals said there was a long standing dispute over renaming Rahmatganj graveyard as Bhangabari graveyard among the people of Bhangabari, Natun Bhangabari, Bahirgola, Rahmatganj and Beparypara villages.
Yesterday, two rival groups locked in a clash around 12:00 pm while some elderly people of the five villages were trying to settle the matter at a meeting.
Both the groups attacked each other with lethal weapons. The clash spread quickly to other parts of the town forcing the traders to shut down their shutters.
The locality turned into a battlefield for about four hours and the clashing groups damaged and ransacked 10 shops and set fire to five others.
On information, police rushed to the spot and charged batons on the mob. They also fired about 50 rubber bullets and hurled 100 tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
Wares Ali Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar police station said, four cops including SI Jahangir Alam, constable Abdul Jabbar, Nasrin Khatun and Nazma Khatun, three women, two children and many pedestrians received injuries during the clash.
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