3 dead, 20 injured in clashes over Kurigram land dispute

The two sides come to blows when one group attempted to use fertiliser on the disputed land and the other blocked them

At least three people have been killed and 20 others injured in deadly clashes over a land dispute in Kurigram’s Rowmari Upazila.

The incident occurred around 2pm on Thursday in the Upazila’s Bhundur Char area.

The injured are being treated at the Rowmari Upazila Health Complex. A tense atmosphere prevails in the area following the violence.

The dead have been identified as Nurul Amin, 40, Bolu Mia, 55, and Ful Babu, 50.

Locals say that two sides, one led by Shajahan Mia and the other Raju Mia, have been feuding over land in the area for a long time. There are several cases over the disputed land as well. When Shajahan’s supporters went to spread fertiliser on the land on Thursday, they were blocked by supporters of Raju.

This led to the clash between the two sides that resulted in three people being killed on the spot. It is initially believed that all three are supporters of Shajahan.

Lutfur Rahman, chief of Rowmari Police Station, said that one individual has been detained in connection with the violence.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area and the situation is currently under control, he said.

Murder cases will be filed after speaking with the families of the dead and police are working to identify and arrest the others involved in the killings, the police official added.