30 injured as two villages in Tangail clash despite Section 144 restrictions

At least 16 houses have allegedly been torched or looted

Despite the imposition of Section 144 restrictions, two villages from Tangail’s Gopalpur and Bhuiyanpara Upazilas have clashed once again, leading to 30 people being injured and houses being torched and looted.

At least 16 houses were set torched amid the violence, and there are allegations that various goods, including cattle and rice, have been stolen.

Tangail District Superintendent of Police Md Shamsul Alam Sarkar said that the incident took place in Nalin Bazar and its surrounding areas in the two Upazilas on Friday morning.

Previously, more than 100 shops were vandalised and looted in Nalin Bazar on Thursday night amid the violence, resulting in the death of an elderly man.

Police said that several rounds of clashes and vandalism occurred between the villages of Guli Pencha in Gopalpur and Jagatpura in Bhuiyanpur on Apr 22. Residents of the two villages clashed once more over the dispute on Thursday afternoon.

Eleven houses were set on fire. The vandalism was extensive. The administration then imposed Section 144 restrictions on gatherings from Thursday night to try and bring the situation under control. However, on Friday morning, the restrictions were ignored, and the violence began anew.

Locals say a megaphone announcement on Thursday night instructed people to gather with weapons at Nolin Bazar the following morning. Subsequently, a clash broke out in the morning.

Superintendent of Police Shamsul said, “Additional police personnel have been deployed in Nolin Bazar, Guli Pecha and Jagatpura areas. The situation is under control.”

Bhuiyanpur Upazila administrator (UNO) Md Mahbub Hasan said that the administration is on the highest alert to bring the situation under control. Law enforcers have taken to the field and everyone has been urged to remain calm.

Gopalpur Police chief Anwar Hossain said that the police are at work and additional forces have been deployed in the area.

Bhuiyanpur Police Station chief Md Sabbir Rahman said that those involved in the clashes and arson are being identified and action is being taken against them.

Shamsul Alam, acting chairman of Hemnagar Union in Gopalpur Upazila, said that a month ago, a dispute arose between the residents of the two villages over leftover food from a shop. This led to several attacks and counter-attacks.

Nazrul Islam, a resident of Jagatpura village and a businessman in Nolin Bazar, alleged that several hundred people from Sakharia village in Hemnagar Union attacked Nolin Bazar, vandalising and looting the shops of traders of Jagatpura village. He claimed that about Tk 30 million worth of goods were looted.

Selimuzzaman Selu, general secretary of Bhuiyanpur Upazila BNP, said that the dispute between the two villages started from a trivial incident. Later, several attempts were made to resolve the situation, but it has yet to be resolved.