22 injured as villagers clash in Netrakona

At least 22 people were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over a land dispute at Dhanpur village in Madan upazila of Netrakona on Saturday, December 27.

The injured were identified as Josna Akter, 50, Shamim Mia, 35, Momota Akter, 50, Saiful, 40, Harun Or Rashid, 42, Shamsuddin, 40, Anwar Hossain, 36, Saddam Hossain, 28, Taizul Haque, 30, Beauty Akter, 35, Bipul Mia, 27, Dulal Mia, 62, Ruby Akter, 27, Simya, 16, Taizul, 36, Abdullah, 42, Saiful, 40, Mia, 40, Amirul Islam, 40, Shafiullah, 42, Jasim Mia, 38, and Humayun Kabir, 45.

Quoting local residents, Madan Police Station officer-in-charge Debangshu Kumar said there has been a longstanding dispute between supporters of Matiur Rahman and Taijul Islam over the ownership of a piece of land.

The dispute escalated on Saturday when both sides attacked each other with locally made sharp weapons, leaving 22 people from both groups injured on the spot, he said.

Locals later rescued the injured and took them to Madan Upazila Health Complex. Five of the injured were referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital as their condition deteriorated.

The police official said a similar clash had taken place in the village a few days earlier over the same issue, and a case filed in connection with that incident is still under investigation.

Police rushed to the scene after receiving information about the clash, he added, noting that additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any further untoward situation.

HM Kamal/MHK/NMA