NARSINGDI: At least 80 people were injured as hordes of rival villagers fought a fierce harpoon fight over a trifling matter at Nilakhshya in Raipura upazila Friday.  

Witnesses said the village turned into a veritable battlefield as over 30,000 inhabitants of Darigaon and Haripur villages and their relatives from other villages also locked horns in massive outbreaks of violence in a sequel to a previous minor incident.     

“Letting out war cry, the two sides fought with harpoons, sticks and sharp weapons,” says a firsthand account of what looked like a medieval savagery that continued for hours from 7am to 1:30pm.

On information, Narsingdi Police Super Akkas Uddin Bhuiyan an+d Poura Mayor Lokman Hossain along with five platoons of police force went to the spot and brought the situation under control before Jum’a prayers.

Witnesses said the clash between Shaheed-Jasim Group of Darigaon and Sumed Ali group of Haripur erupted at about 7am at Sabdar Ali Khan High School ground.

Immediately after the clash broke out, thousands of villagers came out charging each other with sharp weapons, especially harpoons.

On information, a police team rushed to the spot but instantly they could not play any role in stopping the rioting.

“We’re now in the middle of the clash and afraid to go for decisive action with the small number of law-enforcers to tackle the trouble,” Abdul Baten, Officer-in-Charge of Raipura Thana, told banglanews24.com.bd over mobile phone while the violence was on steam.

Narsingdi municipal mayor Lokman Hossain also rushed to the spot for a negotiation.

At least 20,000 harpoons were used in the clash, Abdul Baten informed.

Shah Alam, one of the injured of Haripur village, said, “We are taking treatment in a camp set up in the village to avoid further attack by the rivals and police harassment as well.”

Earlier on April 26, the two rival groups locked into a fierce fighting that left over 100 injured after someone had driven bicycle over paddy being dried on a space. Friday’s fighting was sequel to that feuding.  

BDST 1441 HRS, AUG 27, 2010