Villagers clash, damage rivals' houses over land dispute
A group of villagers burn down the houses of their rivals during a clash over harvest of paddy at Nagdah village in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur yesterday.Photo: STAR
Rival villagers were injured and houses damaged during clashes over land disputes in Rangpur and Joypurhat districts yesterday and the day before. In Rangpur, six people were injured, a house was looted and torched by the rivals on Tuesday at Nagdah village under Parul union of Pirgachha upazila. Police and local sources said there had been a longstanding dispute over the ownership of one and a half acre land between Shamsul Haque and Monsur Ali of the village, reports our correspondent. On Tuesday morning Monsur Ali and his men went to the disputed land for harvesting paddy. They indiscriminately beat up Shamsul Haque and his wife Chakina Khatun, when they tried to resist them. Hearing their scream, locals rushed to the spot to rescue them. Monsur and his men also beat them up, leaving six people injured. At one stage, the attackers also looted the house of Shamsul Haque and set it on fire, villagers said. In Joypurhat, agitated villagers yesterday ransacked and damaged four houses and blocked road following the death of a farmer who was injured in a clash over land dispute on November 12. The deceased was identified as Md. Abdus Sabur Tuku, 45, son of Abdur Rouf Munshi of Parulia village under Joypurhat Sadar upazila, reports our Dinajpur correspondent. Joypurhat police quoting locals said that Saidur Rahman, Md. Hanif, Mostaque and Md. Abdul Hye had a longstanding dispute over one Bigha land with Abdur Rouf Munshi and his sons. On November 12, a gang attacked the family members of Munshi, leaving Md. Abdus Sabur Tuku and his brother Md. Shirajul Islam critically injured. Tuku was shifted to Dhaka Medical College where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning. The death of Tuku triggered anger among the locals of the area. They attacked the houses of rival villagers yesterday morning, damaging and setting four houses on fire. They also blocked Hakimpur-Joypurhat highway, protesting the death of Abdus Sabur Tuku.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments