At least 20 people were injured after residents of two villages in Cumilla became involved in repeated clashes, attacks, vandalism and alleged looting following a dispute over an incident involving a woman.
The violence took place throughout Thursday (24 September) in the Jamair Dokan area along the border between Nangalkot and Manoharganj upazilas. Residents of Pujkara village under Adra South Union in Nangalkot and Hatimara village under Natherpetua Union in neighbouring Manoharganj were involved in several rounds of confrontation.
Police from Nangalkot, Manoharganj and Laksham police stations went to the area after the clashes broke out. Additional police personnel were later deployed in an effort to bring the situation under control and prevent further escalation.
According to local residents, tensions began on Tuesday evening (22 September) after a man from Pujkara allegedly made harassing remarks directed at a woman from Hatimara village at Natherpetua Bazar. The incident reportedly led to an argument and growing tension between people from the two communities.
The dispute escalated two days later. Local sources alleged that a group from Hatimara arrived in Pujkara on Thursday morning carrying firearms, machetes and other locally made weapons. A confrontation followed, with people from both sides reportedly chasing and attacking one another.
Rakibul Islam, manager of a factory in Pujkara village, said a group of around 40 to 50 armed people arrived in the area in the morning and launched indiscriminate attacks.
He alleged that CCTV cameras around the factory were damaged and that several houses and shops were looted. A motorcycle kept at the factory was reportedly set on fire, while the office was also vandalised. According to him, people who attempted to resist the attackers were assaulted.
Rakibul said between 10 and 12 people from Pujkara were injured in the violence and were receiving treatment at different hospitals.
Residents of Hatimara, however, gave a different account of how the confrontation began.
Rubel, a businessman from the Jamair Dokan area, alleged that people from Pujkara had made offensive remarks about a woman from Hatimara at Natherpetua Bazar on Tuesday night. He said residents protested over the incident and that Pujkara residents subsequently announced through loudspeakers on Thursday morning before attacking houses and shops in Hatimara.
Rubel also alleged that houses and businesses were vandalised and looted during the attacks. He said people who tried to intervene were assaulted, leaving between eight and 10 residents of Hatimara injured. The injured, he said, were receiving treatment at hospitals in Laksham.
The conflicting accounts could not be independently verified. Police have said they are working to establish what happened and identify those involved in the violence.
Manoharganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Maksud Ahmed said police personnel were at the scene and were working to bring the situation under control.
Nangalkot Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahinur Islam said the clashes had stemmed from a minor incident and that police were working at the scene to restore order. He said those who had used weapons during the attacks would be identified later.
The incident has created tension in the border area between the two upazilas. With allegations of attacks, vandalism, looting and injuries being made by both sides, police presence has been increased to prevent further clashes while the circumstances surrounding the violence are examined.
