GOPALGANJ:  A farmer was killed and 15 others were injured in sporadic clashes between two groups of villagers at Kashiani upazila of the district centering a channel of irrigation water.

The deceased, Boshir Uddin Sikdar, 60, who died around 9:30pm at the Gopalgonj Sadar Hospital while undergoing treatment, was hailed from Puishur village of the upazila.

Critically injured – Zakir Sikdar, 40, and   Alamgir Sikdar, 58, were admitted to  Khulna Medical College Hospital while Mofizur Rahamn, 50, Shadat Ali, 52, Habil Sikdar, 40, Mamun Sikdar, 32 and  Shodidul, 48  were undergoing  treatment at the Sadar Hospital.

Rests of the injured were given treatment at the upazila hospital and different clinics of the district.

Police and local sources said Mofizur Rahman Sikdar of Puishur village was supplying water on an IRRI paddy filed by installing a shallow machine on the Chowdhury canal of neighbouring Tentulia village around 10:30am of the day.

At one stage, a group of people led-by Layek Ali Mollah of Rajpat village built a dam on the river for fishing. At that time, they beat Mofizur as he tried to prevent them, leaving him critically injured.

As the news spread out, people from the Tentulia and Rajpat villages with locally made weapons thronged the bank of the canal around 11:30am and locked into clashes for several phases, leaving 15 people injured.

On information, police rushed at the spot around 2:30pm and brought the situation under control.

Of the injured, Boshir succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Kashiani Police Station Inspector (investigation) Belayet Hossain admitted the incident saying, “Police have been deployed at the area to avoid any untoward situation.”

BDST: 1030 HRS, MAR 16, 2014