At least twenty people sustained injuries following a day of violent clashes, looting, and arson between residents of two neighbouring villages in Comilla district. The conflict broke out along the boundary connecting Nangalkot and Monoharganj upazilas, specifically around the Jamair Dokan area, on Thursday morning. The violent confrontations involved residents from Pujkara village in Nangalkot’s Adra South Union and Hatimara village in Monoharganj’s Natherpetua Union.
Tensions began brewing on Tuesday evening at the Natherpetua local market when a man from Pujkara village allegedly subjected a woman from Hatimara village to verbal harassment. The incident sparked immediate outrage among Hatimara residents, leading to escalating disputes over the following two days. On Thursday morning, the situation deteriorated into full-scale violence as armed groups launched coordinated attacks across the village borders.
Witnesses reported that armed individuals equipped with pistols, cleavers, and improvised weapons descended upon Pujkara village. Rakibul Islam, manager of Al Mamun Consumer Food and Beverage located in Pujkara, stated that a mob of 40 to 50 armed men launched an unprovoked assault on the commercial facility. The attackers destroyed the factory’s security cameras, ransacked its administrative offices, set fire to a parked motorcycle, and looted several adjacent shops and residential houses. At least 10 to 12 people from Pujkara village were injured whilst attempting to defend their property.
Counter-allegations were raised by residents of Hatimara village. Rubel, a local trader from the Jamair Dokan commercial area, claimed that villagers from Pujkara used public address systems at a local mosque to mobilize a crowd on Thursday morning. According to his account, armed men from Pujkara then vandalised homes and business establishments in Hatimara, injuring 8 to 10 villagers who attempted to resist the assault.
The injured from both sides were rushed to various medical facilities across Laksam and surrounding upazilas for treatment. To quell the escalating violence, law enforcement personnel from Nangalkot, Monoharganj, and Laksam police stations arrived at the scene and deployed additional forces across the border zones.
Maksud Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Monoharganj Police Station, confirmed that police contingents managed to restore order after extensive efforts. Shahinur Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Nangalkot Police Station, stated that the violence originated from a minor altercation and assured that police are actively examining footage and witness accounts to identify and apprehend the armed perpetrators.
