A 60-year old man was killed and at least 20 others were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over collecting extortion money from pickup vans in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbraia on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Shital Mia from Muktarpur village in the upazila.
At least six houses were set afire and several others were vandalised during the clash, said witnesses.
According to locals, on Friday evening Ibrahim Mia from Muktarpur village had an altercation with Rahim Mia of Dharabhanga village who works as lineman of Salim Ganj Bazar.
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They locked into an argument as Rahim demanded Tk 200 as extortion from a pickup van that was unloading logs at Ibrahim’s father Kabir Hossain’s sawmill.
On Saturday morning, some residents of Muktarpur village allegedly beat up Manik and Khokon Mia of Dharabhanga village over the same incident.
As the news spread some residents of Dharabhanga village attacked Muktarpur village with locally made sharp weapons, triggering a clash that left Shital Mia and several others severely injured. They also looted valuables and vandalised houses.
Shital Mia died on the way while being taken to Dhaka for treatment, said Saifuddin Anwar, officer-in-Charge of Nabinagar police station.
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Malek Mia, Dulal Mia, Mehedi Hasan, Amir Mia, Suman Mia, Royal Mia, Mohammad Ali were among the injured.
OC Saifuddin said police brought the situation under control and then additional police were deployed in the area.