Rival villagers clash in C'nawabganj
Man killed, 20 hurt, 50 houses set on fire
Over 50 houses at four villages under two upazilas of Chapainawabganj district were damaged, looted and set on fire during clashes between the supporters of Awami League and BNP yesterday. Photo shows a torched house at Birampur village in Shibpur upazila.Photo: STAR
A man was killed and 20 others were injured in fierce clashes between the local supporters of ruling Awami League and BNP at four villages in Shibganj and Sadar upazilas yesterday. Both groups vandalised, looted and set more than 50 houses on fire. They also exploded handmade bombs during the clashes. The deceased was identified as, Nairul Islam, 45, son of late Khoka Biswas of Miratuli village under Nayalavanga union in Shibganj upazila. Three seriously injured are Sakib, 35, son of Shish Mohammad, Mohammad Manik, 30, and his father Mohammad Faku, 60, of Miratuli village. They were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). Police and Rab were deployed at the villages to bring the situation under control. Police and villagers said, there had been a long-standing conflict between the supporters Ashraful Haque, Chairman of Nayalavanga Union Parishad, also a local BNP leader and Moshtaqul Alam Pintu, local AL leader over establishing supremacy in the area. Yesterday's clashes were a sequel to Friday's skirmish between the two rival groups following an altercation over a trivial issue at Nayalabanga village in Shibganj upazila. Supporters of Ashraf yesterday attacked the houses of Pintu supporters of Babupur in Shibganj upazila and adjacent Sonapur village in Sadar upazila with handmade bombs, sharp weapons and sticks at around 9:00am. They also vandalised a few houses and injured Nairul seriously. Nairul succumbed to his injuries on the way to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital at around 1:00pm. Police recovered the body and sent it to the hospital morgue for autopsy. Hearing the news, agitated supporters of Pintu rushed to Sundarpur, Miratuli, Birhampur and Sonapur villages and attacked the houses of Ashraf supporters with sharp weapons, sticks and handmade bombs. They also vandalised, looted and then set at least 50 houses on fire. During the clash, at least 20 people were injured. Villagers said, both the groups are supporters of two influential men who have strong backing from the two major political parties. On information, police and Rab rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Contacted, AZM Sharzil Hasan, upazila nirbahi officer of Shibganj and Shakiluzzaman, ASP of Sadar Circle, said that additional forces were deployed in the area to tackle the situation.
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