At least 25 people were injured and 40 houses vandalised during a clash between two groups of the ruling Awami League at Baluchar village in Sirajdikhan upazila of the district yesterday morning.

Officer-in-Charge Abul Bashar of Sirajdikhan Police Station said the two groups-one led by Baluchar union Awami League President Alek Chand Munshi and the other by Vice-President of the unit Nasir Uddin Molla--locked in a clash at around 8:00am to take control of the union.

The rival groups equipped with lethal weapons swooped on each other, leaving at least 25 from both sides injured. At least 40 houses were also vandalised at the village during the clash that lasted for an hour.

Being informed, police went to the spot, fired rubber bullets and teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Locals said there had been a longstanding dispute between Molla and Munshi over control of the union. Yesterday's clash was a sequel to the conflict.

Of the injured, Ashfaque Sarkar, 35, Sirajul Sarker, 50, Aslam Sarker, 40, Liton Sarker, 35, Kamal Hosen, 22, Shah

Ali, 25, Alamgir, 50, Amir Hossain, 50, Didar, 30, Belayet, 42, Akhter, 34, Delowar, 35, Lipi Begum, 24 and Beauty Akhter, 25, were admitted to the upazila health complex while the rest to the hospitals in Munshiganj town and Dhaka.

People of Notun Bhasanchar, Mollakandi and Khashmahal villages under Baluchar union are in a state of panic. Police have been deployed the area to avert any further incident.

None was arrested in connection with the incident as of filing of this report at 5:00pm yesterday.