Temples torched over govt land dispute in Pirojpur

A group of people have attacked houses of their opponents and torched two temples over possession of government land at Nazirpur in Pirojpur.

Nazirpur Police Station OC Khandker Mostafizur Rahman said the incident took place at a river island, on the bank of the Mara Baleshwar River, in the early hours of Friday.

Locals said the attackers, numbering up to 60, also assaulted two women at the house of one Chinmoy Majumder.

Nazirpur Sadar Union Chairman Md Mosharraf Hossain told bdnews24.com Majumder claimed ownership of 15 acres of land on the shoal.

There had been disputes between Majumder and local landless people, who also claimed ownership of the land.

The court had distributed the land between two sides following a legal battle.

But each side kept claiming the ownership over the entire piece of land.

Locals said up to 60 landless people launched the attacks and tried to evict Majumder’s family.

As the male members of the family fled the house to escape the attack, the perpetrators assaulted two women.

They also set on fire two temples on the river island.

OC Rahman said Pirojpur Additional Superintendent of Police Abu Ashraf rushed to the spot with law enforcers and brought the situation under control.

He said police were trying to arrest the attackers.