A long-standing dispute over land ownership in Kendua upazila of Netrokona district escalated into a violent confrontation on Wednesday morning, leaving one woman dead and at least ten others injured. The incident took place in the Amtola village of Roailbari Union, triggering panic and heightened tension across the locality.
The deceased has been identified as Soma Akter (30), wife of Saddam Hossain from Amtola village. She was declared dead after being taken to Kendua Upazila Health Complex with critical injuries sustained during the clash. Her death has cast a deep shadow of grief over her family and the wider community.
According to local residents and eyewitness accounts, the violence stemmed from a prolonged dispute between Noorul Islam and his paternal cousin Shamsuddin regarding the ownership and possession of a parcel of land. The situation deteriorated sharply when one group began earth-cutting work on the disputed property on Wednesday morning. The opposing side objected, leading to heated arguments that quickly escalated into a full-scale confrontation.
Within moments, the verbal altercation turned violent as both sides allegedly used locally available sharp weapons and sticks to attack one another. The clash left men and women injured, several of them critically. Panic spread rapidly through the village, forcing many residents to flee to safer areas.
Medical officials confirmed that Soma Akter succumbed to her injuries shortly after admission. Several of the injured were initially treated at the upazila health complex before being referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital due to the severity of their conditions.
List of the injured
| Name | Age | Identity / Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Asma | 45 | Wife of Idris |
| Sohel | 36 | Son of Kuddus |
| Haruna | 60 | Wife of late Usman |
| Shika | 18 | Local resident |
| Sharmin | 25 | Local resident |
| Noorul Islam | 60 | Party to dispute |
| Shahin Mia | 32 | Local resident |
| Idris Mia | — | Local resident |
| Sattar Mia | — | Local resident |
Following the incident, additional police forces were deployed to the area to prevent further unrest. Local administration officials visited the scene and worked to calm tensions among the opposing groups.
A police officer in charge of Kendua Police Station stated that the situation is currently under control. No arrests have yet been made, and legal procedures are underway. The body of the deceased has been sent to Netrokona District Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination.
Residents of the area have expressed concern that the dispute had been lingering for years without effective intervention. They allege that repeated tensions over the land were not properly resolved, ultimately culminating in this deadly outbreak of violence. Locals are now demanding a thorough and impartial investigation, punishment for those responsible, and urgent steps to prevent such incidents in the future.