Woman killed, 40 injured in Cumilla char land clash

A woman named Kohinur Begum (35) was killed in a clash between residents of two villages in Cumilla's Titas and Meghna upazilas over a long-standing dispute over char land. Her body, with a spear wound, was recovered from the Meghna River after the clash. At least 40 people from both sides were injured, most of them with spear wounds.

The clash between residents of Char Binatpur and Alipur villages in Meghna upazila and Char Bhatera village in Titas upazila lasted for about two hours from Sunday (July 26) afternoon. The injured were admitted to Titas and Meghna upazila health complexes. Three critically injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The deceased, Kohinur Begum, was the wife of Kabil Mia, a trawler driver from Alipur village in Meghna upazila.

According to police and local sources, on Sunday afternoon, expatriates Md Shahbaz and Majnu Mia of Char Bhatera village in Titas upazila went to Meghna upazila for personal work. There, Ali Akbar of Char Binatpur village and his associates beat them and held them captive. Later, people from Char Bhatera village went and brought them back. This incident triggered the clash between the two sides in the afternoon.

According to local sources, 15 people from Titas upazila and 25 from Meghna upazila were injured in the clash. Among the critically injured are Swapan Mia (27) and Sagar Mia (40) of Char Binatpur, and Jasim Uddin (35) of Char Bhatera.

After the clash, locals saw a woman's body with a spear wound floating in the Meghna River in the Alipur area. It was later recovered and identified as the body of Kohinur Begum.

Ali Akbar of Char Binatpur village alleged that people from Char Bhatera village, led by Shah Alam Member, attacked their village, vandalised property, looted goods and took away cattle. However, Shah Alam could not be reached for comment.

Titas Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Momirul Haque said additional police have been deployed in the area to control the situation. The situation was reported to be calm after evening.

Meghna Police Station OC Md Shahidul Islam said police reached the spot after receiving the news. The situation is under control, and the incident is being investigated to take necessary legal action.

Locals said there has been a long-standing dispute between residents of Titas and Meghna upazilas over the possession of char land on both banks of the Meghna River. Earlier, on June 15, a clash over the same dispute had left at least 20 injured and several houses vandalised.