Four people have sustained shotgun pellet injuries in a clash between two rival groups affiliated with the BNP and Jubo Dal in Sharsha upazila of Jashore.
The injured were identified as Shah Alam, 38, Abdullah, 32, Bakul, 34, and Bakul’s 15-year-old son Shakil.
The clash broke out around 5pm on Thursday in Gainpara of Kanyadah village over alleged attempts to establish control over the area and the Kanyadah Baor, according to police and local residents.
At least 10 to 12 crude bombs were reportedly exploded during the incident, damaging two houses.
A local man also fell ill after becoming frightened by the violence and was later admitted to Sharsha Upazila Health Complex.
Police and locals said a dispute over control of the baor and local dominance had been continuing for some time between local BNP leader Rezaul Islam Gain and supporters of upazila BNP Labour Affairs Secretary Shahid Ali and Shahidul Islam Shahid, the recently expelled joint convener of Sharsha upazila Jubo Dal.
The two groups have previously been involved in clashes, chases and counter-chases, as well as incidents involving crude bomb explosions, locals said.
According to police and local sources, a group of around 50 to 60 people allegedly armed with locally made weapons and sticks gathered in front of Rezaul Islam Gain’s house on Thursday afternoon under the leadership of Shahid Ali.
The group allegedly exploded 10 to 12 crude bombs, damaging the homes of Babu Gain and Anarul.
When supporters of Rezaul Gain attempted to resist, the attackers allegedly fired a shotgun at them, injuring the four victims with pellets.
Meanwhile, panic spread across the neighbourhood following the explosions and gunfire. Mashiur Morol, 56, reportedly became ill amid the commotion and was taken to the upazila health complex.
Shahid Ali and Shahidul Islam Shahid denied involvement in the attack.
Shahidul said he was at a market in Benapole when the incident took place. He said he went to the village after police contacted him by phone.
Sharsha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shaminul Haque said the two groups exchanged gunfire over a dispute concerning local dominance.
“Police were deployed at the scene after receiving information about the incident,” he said.
No case had been filed with Sharsha Police Station over the incident as of Thursday night, the OC added.
