Three members of the same family were seriously injured in a violent attack involving vandalism and looting over a land ownership dispute in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district.
The incident occurred at 11:00 pm on December 10 at Bani Chandra Shekhar village under Kamardah Union of the upazila.
According to the case statement filed by the victim, Md. Fazle Rabbi Sheikh, he had been running a tin-shed grocery shop on ancestral land owned by Md. Rafiqul Sheikh for a long time. Recently, Md. Shariful Islam, son of Choleman Sheikh, along with six others, claimed ownership of the land and allegedly threatened him repeatedly.
On the night of the incident, the accused, armed with sharp knives, Chinese axes, iron rods and other weapons, arrived at the shop in a premeditated manner. They first broke the shop’s fencing and started vandalizing it. When Fazle Rabbi came out of the shop and shouted for help, his uncle Md. Rashidul, cousin Shilon and another relative Jalo rushed to the spot.
The attackers then assaulted them with sharp weapons, leaving Shilon with deep cuts on his head and back, Jalo with a bleeding head injury, and Rashidul with a broken hand.
During the attack, the assailants looted goods from the shop and took Tk 20,600 in cash from the cash box. The total damage was estimated at around Tk 80,000, according to the complaint.
Hearing the screams, local residents including Mokbul Hossain, Dula Mia and Maju Mia rushed to the scene. The attackers fled after threatening the locals.
The injured were rescued and admitted to Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex. Later, two of them were referred to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura as their condition was critical.
OC of Gobindaganj Police Station, Mozammel Haque, said, a written complaint has been received and necessary legal action will be taken after investigation.
