At least 20 people were injured in a factional clash between two groups of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over an anti-Israel march and the burning of an effigy of Benjamin Netanyahu at Baraigram upazila in Natore early Saturday.
Police, however, arrested an individual for his alleged involvement in the incident, police officials said.
Among the injured are Mamunur Rashid,50, Mazharul Islam Rantu, 52, Aynul Haque, 48, Palash, 30, Monirul Islam, 44, Mizanur Rahman, 48, Masud Rana, 46, Abdul Momin Md, Firoz Manju, 65, Masud Rana Mintu, 47, Chabel Ali, 47, Motaleb Hossain, 45, Shariful Islam, 50, Zahidul Islam, 40, Alif Hossain, 28, Raihan, 30, and Nader Ali, 60.
According to locals, there had been a long standing between a local BNP leader Masud Rana and Nader Ali over the managing committee of Kamardah High School.
The supporters of Nader Ali brought out a protest rally against the Israeli genocide at Gaza in Palestine at Kamardah Bazar in the upazila.
An altercation was taken place between the supporters of Masud Rana and Nader Ali while Nader’s men were setting fire to effigy of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The two groups, at one stage, swooped on each other with lethal weapons, leaving 20 people of the both groups injured on the spot.
Locals rescued the injured and took them to different hospitals Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Natore Sadar Hospital and Baraigram Upazila Health Complex for treatment.
Being informed, a team of police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Baraigram Police Station inspector (investigation) Mahbubur Rahman.
Police arrested the key suspect, Ariful Islam, for his alleged involvement in the incident. He was later sent to jail after producing him before a court in the district, the OC added.
Masud Rana alleged that the supporters of Nader Ali attacked the shops of his supporters and assaulted them.
Denying the allegation, Nader Ali said that none of his supporters were involved in the incident. Rather, the supporters of Masud assaulted his supporters, he claimed.
OH/HK
