Clash leaves 37 injured in Faridpur

At least 37 people were injured as two rival groups clashed reportedly over establishing supremacy in Ramkantapur union of Faridpur's Saltha upazila yesterday.

The clash erupted around 6:00am at Bairdia village and lasted till 10:00am.

Of the injured, around 20 were admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and Boalmari Upazila Health Complex, while the rest received first aid, said police and locals.

During the violence, attackers vandalised two houses and a shop. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

According to locals, there was a longstanding dispute between the supporters of Lutfor Rahman-Imran Molla and Hemayet Hossain over establishing supremacy in the area.

The dispute escalated on Thursday morning when Hemayet's supporters demanded the key to the Bahirdia Paschimpara Jame Mosque from Nazrul, a supporter of the Lutfor-Imran group. As Nazrul refused to hand it over, an altercation broke out between the two sides.

On Thursday night, police, local clerics, and BNP leaders tried to mediate the conflict. However, violence erupted yesterday morning when Hemayet's supporters, armed with local weapons, attacked Imran's house, triggering clashes and counterattacks. Saltha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Ataur Rahman said additional forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further unrest.