Clash for control of mosque body
10 injured, 8 houses vandalised in Ishwardi
This house, one of the eight, was vandalised during a clash between two groups of villagers over control of a mosque committee at Jagannathpur village in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district yesterday.Photo: STAR
At least 10 people were injured and eight houses vandalised during clashes between two groups of villagers over taking leadership of a mosque committee at Jagannathpur village in Ishwardi upazila yesterday and on Monday night. Police and local people said two rival groups-one led Siddikur Rahman Moyez and the other by Md Mofazzal Hossain-have a rivalry over establishing supremacy at the village. Conflict between the two groups deepened over erecting concrete structure of Jagannathpur Purbopara Mosque one and a half months ago. Only a few days ago, Mofazzal Hossain replaced Siddikur Rahman Moyez as president of the mosque committee and this angered Moyez and his men who locked in a clash with their rivals following an altercation over the issue on Monday night. During the clash, the rivals groups used firearms, sticks and iron rods, leaving at least 10 people from both sides injured. Six of them belong to Moyez group while the rest to Mofazzal group. The injured were admitted to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex. One of them, who received bullet injuries during the clash, was shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated. Police said Moyaz group filed a case with Iswardi Police Station on Monday night, accusing Mofazzal and 13 others of his group. At around 10:00am yesterday, the supporters of Moyez attacked their rival villagers, prompting them to retaliate. At least eight houses were vandalished and a tea stall was torched during the clash that continued for an hour. Being informed, police rushed to the village and dispersed the clashing groups. Mofazzal group did not file any case in connection with the incidents as filing of this report at 5:00pm yesterday. Police have been deployed at Jagannathpur village and the mosque to avert any further incident, said Md Akbar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Iswardi Police Station.
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