Barisal Correspondent :
At least four people were injured, one in gunshot, and a cinema hall was ransacked in factional clash within the ruling Awami League (AL) over controlling the fish landing and loading point at Ulania, about four miles from Mehendiganj upazila town in Barisal district, during the small hours of Monday.
Bullet injured Altaf Sardar alias Altu Sardar, 55, Vice-President of Ulania Union AL, was admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital. The other three injured persons were treated at Upazila Health Complex.
Witnesses and police sources said there was long-standing rivalry between Jamal Molla, Ulania union Parishad Chairman and also Mehendiganj upazila AL organising secretary and Altaf Hossain Sardar, Govindapur Union AL Vice- President.
Recently their rivalry intensified centering Ulania fish landing and loading point.
In an altercation between two groups on that issue, Altaf received gunshot in his head and foot at Ulania Bazaar at about 11:00 PM on Sunday.
As this news spread in the area, both groups with sharp and lethal weapons attacked each other at about 11:30 PM. Agitated followers of Altaf Hossain ransacked Meghna Cinema Hall owned by rival Jamal Molla. Doors, furniture and screen of the cinema hall were damaged.
Police rushed to the spot at 12:20 AM. A case was lodged in this connection on behalf of Altaf Hossain, said Ujjal Kumar Dey, Mehendiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge.
Altaf Hossain and Jamal Molla blamed each others for the incident.
