HABIGANJ, Dec 11: At least seven people were killed when police opened fire on the clashing villagers near Mashajan Bridge in Sadar thana of the district today, reports UNB.

The dead were identified as Abdul Aziz. 35. of village Sul-tanshi. Siddique Ali. 45. of village Atghoria. Ramesh Chandra Sutradhar. 45, Tota Mia. 40. and Jalal Mia, 35. of village Poil. Abdul Latif. 40. of Auspara and Abdus Salam. 35. of Te-tuiya in sadar thana.

More than 100 people were

injured in the day-long clashes. Most of them received bullet injuries and were admitted to Habiganj Sadar Hospital.

District administration imposed section 144 in the troubled area and its adjoining places for an indefinite period. Para-military BDR was also called in to bring the situation under control.

Witnesses said the clash occurred between the residents of Sharifpur and Sultanshi villages and the nearby villages.

including Tetulya and Ranger-gaon. It began on Wednesday as a sequel to assault of a youth at the Jatragan pandal few days back in village Sharifpur.

The clash erupted again this morning after a bid to make a compromise between the feudingGroups failed.

The situation turned worse when a large number of people from village Poil rushed to the spot following a rumour that former Upazila Chairman Ahmedul Huq was held captive

by his rivals.

To quell the violence, police lobbed tear gas shells and opened fire on the feuding groups.

Police Super Kangshadhar Tarafdar said 75 rounds of bullet and 62 tear gas shells were fired during the clash to disperse the mob.

This correspondent found four bodies kept at the Sadar Hospital while three others at Sadar thana. The number of casualty might increase.