Five people were killed in a brutal attack stemming from a long-running feud in Narail Sadar upazila early on Monday, police said. Four suspects from the accused group have been detained as security forces intensify operations in the area.
The violence erupted at dawn following sehri in Barokula village under Singasholpur union. According to police and local residents, around 50 to 70 men allegedly led by Khayer Molla stormed the home of rival Khalil Sheikh, armed with locally made sharp weapons and sticks.
Khalil Sheikh and his son Tahazzat Sheikh were dragged out of their house and hacked to death, witnesses and family members said. Ferdous Hossain and Munna Sheikh were also killed in a similar manner during the attack.
During the clash, a supporter of the Khayer Molla group, Osikur Fakir, sustained critical injuries and later died in hospital, bringing the total death toll to five.
Police said the killings were linked to a protracted dispute between the families and their supporters, which had persisted for years. Family members of the deceased said they had previously received threats from the rival group. Around nine to 10 years ago, Khalil Sheikh’s family moved from Tarapur to Barokula village in an attempt to avoid further violence, but tensions reportedly continued.
Officer-in-Charge Oli Mia of Narail Sadar Police Station told TIMES that no case had yet been filed by the victims’ families. “Although no formal complaint has been lodged so far, our investigation is ongoing and efforts to apprehend those responsible are continuing,” he said.
A senior official at the Narail District Police Office, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that four individuals from the accused group had been detained for questioning. “Once a case is filed, they will be shown arrested,” the official said.
Police have confirmed that locally made sharp weapons were used in the attack. “Our preliminary examination found no signs of gunfire. The murder was carried out with sharp-edged weapons,” the official added.
The incident has cast a pall of fear and mourning over the village. Additional police and law enforcement personnel have been deployed to prevent further violence and maintain order.
