At least two people were killed and over 29 others injured in a factional clash between two groups of ruling Awami League (AL) over establishing supremacy at village Machpara under Jhaudia union of Kushtia Sadar on Saturday morning.
The deceased were identified as Iman Ali, 35, of village Machpara and Shahabuddin, 42, of village Bodyianathpur of Kushtia sadar upazila. Both the deceased were loyal to Keramat group and activists of AL Jhaudia union unit. Iman was gunned down while Sahabuddin chopped to death.
Of the injured persons, eight were admitted to Kushtia General Hospital with critical injuries. Many of the injured persons received bullet wounds.
According to locals and police, the clash began at about 6:00am and continued till 8:30am. During the clash, both the groups vandalised houses and shops. The activists of feuding groups also looted cash and other valuables from 27 houses.
When contacted Proloy Chisim, superintendent of police of Kushtia district told The New Nation on Saturday afternoon that at least two people were killed and many others injured in the clash.
“The whole area turned into a battlefield during the clash that left two people dead on the spot. Following the incident, a heavy contingent of law enforcers rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The situation is now under control,” the SP said.
Talking to the journalists, Jhaudia police camp in-charge Dilip Kumar, said two groups of AL — one led by incumbent Union Parishad Chairman Keramat Ali and the other led by former chairman Bakhtiar – had long been enmity between them over establishing supremacy in the area.
“The clash ensued following an altercation between two groups on Friday at about 6 in the morning. And since then the rival groups launched attacks on each other. At one stage on Saturday morning, both the groups equipped with firearms took position in the area and exchanged gunshots, triggering a clash that left two of them dead on the spot and 27 others injured,” he said.
Dilip Kumar said during the clash both sides fired gunshots and swooped on their rivals with lethal weapons
Earlier on September 19, the activists of both groups launched attacks on over 100 hundred houses at Alinagar and Machpara villages of the union. During the attacks, the activists also looted valuables from each other’s houses, police said.
Local and police said, the feud between Keramat and Bakhtiar took a serious turn after the last UP polls held on June 11 where Keramat was elected UP chairman as an independent candidate defeating the AL nominated candidate Bokhtiar.
