Clash over power struggle leaves 15 injured in Sylhet, Army deployed

Police say the clash was triggered by a quarrel between two teenagers

A clash has broken out between residents of two villages in Sylhet over a power struggle, leaving at least 15 people injured after the Sylhet–Sunamganj road was blocked for more than an hour.

The violence erupted in the wee hours of Thursday in the city’s Temukhi area between residents of the Kamargaon and Sahebergaon villages and continued until around 1:30am, said Jalalabad Police Station chief Shamsul Habib.

Citing witness accounts, police said the clash was triggered by a quarrel between two teenagers from Kumargaon and Sahebergaon.

As tensions escalated, residents of neighbouring villages joined the fray -- people from Nazirergaon sided with Kumargaon, while residents of Chharergaon and Kalirgaon joined those from Sahebergaon.

During the clash, the Sylhet–Sunamganj road was blocked as the two sides hurled brickbats at each other.

The confrontation lasted for about an hour and a half, leaving at least 15 people injured.

Police and local BNP leaders initially attempted to bring the situation under control but failed.

The Army was later deployed to the area around 1am.

Members of the Army and police subsequently chased away the groups involved and restored order.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Mohammad Saiful Islam said initial claims suggested the clash was politically motivated, but police have not yet found evidence to substantiate the claim.

“The root cause appears to be a dispute between two teenagers, and the matter is under investigation,” he said, adding that the clash initially involved residents of two villages before spreading to neighbouring areas.

He also said the situation has now returned to normal.