Four people, including a boy, were injured during a clash between two rival groups over establishing dominance in Chattogram’s Baklia area on Saturday night.
Police have arrested five people in connection with the clash and recovered a shotgun and ammunition during a raid, said Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan, deputy commissioner (South) of the city police.
The injured are Fahim, 12, son of Md Kalam, a resident of Moyder Mill Paschim Para; Md Hasan; Jasim; and Ismail Mia.
Fahim, who sustained bullet injuries, was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), he added.
Doctors at CMCH reported that the child suffered a bullet wound to his knee and may require surgery, though he is currently out of danger.
According to police and local sources, there was a long-standing dispute over local dominance between followers of Morshed Khan and those of Abdus Sobahan and Shawkat.
Morshed, a listed criminal, recently returned to the area after a long absence and was reportedly attacked by rivals. In retaliation, his followers allegedly launched an attack using pellets and sharp weapons around 10pm on Saturday.
Police official Kabir said officers recovered a shotgun and two cartridges from the residence of an armed individual named Faruk Hossain around 2am. However, Faruk managed to flee the scene.
Baklia Police Station’s Officer-in-charge (OC) Mohammad Solaiman said additional forces have been deployed to the area.
Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and gathering detailed information from the injured as part of the process to file a case. Operations to apprehend others involved in the incident are ongoing.
