Gunfire on Padma River leaves one dead and another wounded amid escalating territorial disputes
Photo Collected
Police and naval authorities recovered a bullet-riddled body from a drifting boat on the Padma River near Lalgpur’s Raitar Char on Tuesday, marking the latest casualty in a violent struggle for territorial control over the region’s riverine islands. The operation, conducted jointly by the Lalgpur police and the Lakshmikunda Naval Police, concluded around 3:00 p.m., following reports of an early morning ambush.
The victim, identified as 45-year-old Sahabul Islam, a resident of Ishwardi, reportedly died at the scene after being struck by gunfire while aboard the vessel. A second man, Rabiul Islam Molla, 37, sustained gunshot wounds during the attack. Despite his injuries, Molla managed to leap from the boat and reach the riverbank before collapsing. He was subsequently transported to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for emergency treatment.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Lalgpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam confirmed the incident, stating that unidentified assailants opened fire from the riverbank during the early hours of the morning. While authorities are still working to identify the perpetrators and establish a definitive motive, preliminary investigations suggest the attack is linked to long-standing, violent rivalries over the control of sand quarries and fertile land across the vast, porous border regions of Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, and Rajshahi.
The violence has left the local community in a state of heightened tension. Residents noted that the area has been plagued by territorial disputes involving multiple armed factions that exploit the remote landscape to evade law enforcement. This latest killing follows a similar incident on June 9, when the body of a young man was discovered inside a drifting speedboat near Char Jajira. Since October of last year, at least seven people have been killed in clashes related to dominance over these remote riverine areas.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Lakshmikunda Naval Police Sub-Inspector Salim Mia confirmed that the body has been transferred to the Natore Sadar Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination before being released to the victim’s family. While local reports indicate the involvement of competing criminal factions, official investigations into the specific circumstances of Tuesday’s shooting remain ongoing.
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