Land Dispute in Pabna
20 including two cops bullet-hit as rivals clash
At least 20 people, including two policemen, were injured in a clash between two rival groups over capture of a disputed land at Rupkatha Road in the town yesterday.
Police said both Sajjad Hossain Bachchu, owner of Swagatom Chinese Restaurant and Sirajul Islam, owner of a workshop adjacent to the restaurant, had been claiming the ownership of the workshop for long.
Local influential people had earlier held several meetings to settle the issue, but their efforts went in vain.
The trouble began at around 11:30am yesterday when Bachchu and his men tried to capture the workshop. Being informed, a police team also went there.
As Siraj and his men resisted attempts by their rivals to capture the workshop, Bachchu, also former president of Jatiya Party (Ershad) Pabna district unit, opened fire from his licensed gun, leaving at least 20 people, including two cops, injured.
The injured were admitted to Pabna Medical College Hospital. Of them, the condition of Sub-Inspector Md Fazle Elahi, constable Lutfar Rahman, and Bablu, Surya, Masud Rana, Rafiqul Islam, Akram Hossain, Azad, Hyder Ali, Mamun Rahman, and Lal Hossain of Siraj group was stated to be critical.
Police charged baton and fired blank shots to bring the situation under control. They raided the Chinese restaurant and arrested 13 people, including Bachchu, from there.
Bachchu claimed that he had to open fire in self defence. But locals said 5/6 rounds of bullets were fired from the restaurant during the clash.
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