Tahirpur (Sunanganj) Correspondent

At least 30 people were injured on Wednesday during a two-hour clash between residents of four villages and Middle Tahirpur over a minor dispute originating from a cricket match in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj.

The incident was triggered a week ago when a cricket ball hit an easy-bike windshield on the Sunamganj-Tahirpur road. The easy-bike driver, a resident of Middle Tahirpur, entered into an altercation and subsequent scuffle with a youth from Beernagar village. The following day, two individuals from Middle Tahirpur assaulted another youth from Beernagar at Tahirpur Bazar, escalating tensions between Middle Tahirpur and residents from neighboring Beernagar, Dhutma, Joynagar, and Laxmipur villages.

Tensions flared again on Tuesday night after another altercation occurred between two youths at Tahirpur Bazar. Around midnight, an announcement was broadcast over the loudspeaker of a mosque in Beernagar, calling upon residents to gather at the field the next morning equipped with weapons. After video clips of the mosque announcement circulated on social media, police personnel deployed to the area overnight to mediate and defuse the situation.

Despite the police presence and reconciliation efforts, crowds gathered at the field on Wednesday morning. At around 12:00 PM, violence erupted into intense brick-pelting and chases between the opposing groups, lasting until 2:00 PM and spreading panic throughout the locality.

At least 30 individuals sustained injuries from thrown bricks and projectiles during the conflict. Three of the severely injured were transferred to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital for advanced medical treatment.

Tahirpur Police Station OC  Farooq Ahmed confirmed that police had maintained a presence at the site since Tuesday night to prevent violence. He stated that despite police intervention, the size of the gathering led to a full-scale clash. Police personnel remain deployed at the scene to maintain order, and the situation in the area remains tense.