30 hurt in fierce gunfight for charland in Bagerhat
At least 30 people were injured in a fierce gunfight between two groups of villagers in Mollarhat upazila yesterday morning over capturing a large charland in the Madhumati River.
The clash ensued between the two rival groups of Shingachhi village -- one led by Zahid Shikdar and another by Zinnah Sardar -- around 9:45am, said assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Mahfuzul Alam Russel.
During the 45-minute long clash, around 60 rounds of fire were exchanged leaving at least 19 people bullet-hit, locals and police said.
The injured were rushed to bordering Gopalganj Sadar Hospital from where four were shifted to Khulna Medical College Hospital as their condition deteriorated, they added.
UNB quoting superintendent of police (SP) of Bagerhat Khandakar Rafiqul Islam said that local AL leaders Zahid and Zinnah had rivalry over ownership of three acres of charland of the river.
Zinnah Sardar along with his men went to cultivate the land with power tiller at about 7:30am.
Within minutes, Zahid Shikdar along with his supporters rushed to the area and tried to resist Zinnah.
There they locked in an altercation that triggered a fierce clash.
Supporters of both the groups, equipped with guns, iron roads, machetes and other sharp weapons, attacked each other.
At least 30 people were injured, of them 19 hit by bullets, on both sides during the clash that continued from 9:45 to 10:30am.
Police rushed to spot and brought the situation under control. Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further clash.
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