JHENIDAH. Mar 2: Two outlawed parties fought a fierce gunbattle from two sides of a river today, killing 7 people and Injuring an unspecified number of others, reports UNB.

Police and witnesses said the gunmen of Purba Banglar Communist Party and Blpiobl Communist Party traded several hundred shots across the river Kumar that flows between Shallakupa and Harinakundu thanas. 12 kilometres from the district headquarter*.

Six people died on the spot — all said to be top leaders of the Purba Banglar Communist Party. Four of them were named Tlpu. Arman. Halder and Moazzem.

The fighting started at 3.30 thi* ^Tuesday) afternoon and

continued for hours, creating panic In the area.

Activist* of the Purba Banglar Communist Party were in shelter at village Maheshgarl In Shallakupa thana.

Gunmen of the Blpiobl Communist Party (Haq group) stormed Maheshgarl and chased their rivals to village Raghunzthpur in Harinakundu thana across tlx river where a dogged battle took place

Villagers said the activists took away their bullet struck colleagues with them before leaving the scene

Panlc-strtken people of the area fled to nearby villages.

Police from Shallakupa and Harinakundu and Additional Police Super of Jhenldah rushed the spot

In the morning, the Haq ' group also shot dead another activist of the rival group at village Sonardalr In sadar thana

Four armedmen of the Haque group called Naxrul Islam (27), a member of the Purba Banglar Communist Party. out of hts house at 9 am and took him to a nearby field where he was shot In the head and chest. He died on the spot.

Police sent the body to Sadar Hospital for postmortem. A case was filed with Jhenidah police.

With these, some I 1 people have been killed in protracted bltMxiy feud between the two underground parties tn the last two days.