6 shot, 15 hurt in clash over cattle grazing in Cumilla

At least 15 people were injured, including six who sustained gunshot wounds, in a clash between two groups over a previous dispute involving cattle grazing in Nangalkot upazila of Cumilla. The incident occurred on Friday (July 25) afternoon in Dakshin Aliyara village of Boxganj Union.

The gunshot victims have been identified as Sharifa Begum (60), Osman Gani (16), Sufia Begum (50), Hosneara Begum (55), Kazi Kabir Ahmed (35), and Abu Taher (60).

According to local sources, the conflict dates back to June 23, when a dispute over cattle grazing led to a clash between the groups of Abul Khayer and Sheikh Farid in Dakshin Aliyara village. Abul Khayer later filed a case, and four people were arrested and sent to jail. On Thursday, police arrested Sheikh Farid, the prime accused in the case, from Muradnagar in Cumilla. The following day, fresh clashes broke out between the two groups, resulting in several injuries, including gunshot wounds.

The injured were initially taken to Nangalkot Upazila Health Complex and later referred to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Hosneara Begum, one of the victims, said, “Sheikh Farid’s men had attacked us before. Today, they launched another attack and opened fire.”

Dr. Shima Majumder, the on-duty physician at the health complex, said, “Around 1 PM, three women and a teenage boy arrived with gunshot wounds. Later, two more injured men were brought in. All were referred to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for better care.”

Nangalkot Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) A.K. Fazlul Haque stated, “Police and army personnel reached the spot and brought the situation under control following reports of the clash. However, we have not received any confirmed information about gunshot injuries.”