20 injured in clash over land dispute at Char Fasson

CHAR FASSON, BHOLA,  Aug 28: At least 20 people, including women, were injured in a clash between two groups over the possession of disputed land in Jahannpur Union under Shashibhushan Police Station of Char Fasson Upazila on Thursday.

The injured were taken to Char Fasson Upazila Health Complex and other hospitals. At least six sustained serious injuries. They were identified as Farid Uddin, 35, Akhtar Begum, 40, Rashida Begum, 38, Samia Begum, 18, Sakaowat, 32, and Muslim Begum, 28, all from Jahannpur.

Locals said the two groups had been in a dispute for a long time over the ownership and possession of land beside Khas Pukur in Ward No 2 of the union.

This morning, members of one group went to the disputed land to cut jute plants they had cultivated there. When the other group tried to stop them, an argument broke out.

The confrontation soon turned violent as both sides attacked each other with sticks, machetes, chisels and other locally made weapons. The clash continued for about an hour.

The hospital's emergency department said many of the injured had deep wounds on their heads, hands, legs and other parts of their bodies.

Six seriously injured people were admitted, while several others were referred to Bhola General Hospital and Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal. The others received primary treatment.

Firoz Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Shashibhushan Police Station, said a written complaint had been filed by Shafiullah Member on behalf of one side.