A farmer was killed and at least eight others were injured today in a clash over land dispute in Mehendiganj upazila of Barisal.

The incident took place around 9:30am this morning in Badal Ratanpur village under Bidyanandapur union in the upazila, reports our correspondent.

The deceased was identified as Ali Gharami, 45, said Harrun-or-Rashid, officer-in-charge of Kazirhat Police Station.

Victim’s younger brother, Ripon Gharami, told our correspondent that they had a long standing dispute with their cousin Shah Alam Gharami over ownership of a piece of land beside a canal.  

Today, Shah Alam prepared to slaughter his sacrificial animal on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha on the disputed land. When Ali Gharami and others opposed this, Shah Alam and his associates -- Ibrahim, Rasel, Ruhul Amin, Imran, Delwar Gharami, and Nasir Gharami -- attacked them with locally made sharp weapons used for slaughtering animals, Ripon said.

Nine people were injured in the clash, he said, adding that six of them including Ali Gharami were taken to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where doctors pronounced Ali dead.

The other five critically injured persons are: Alamgir Gharami, 40, Sahagir Gharami, 24, Kamal Gharami, 30, Masud Gharami, 25, and Humayun Gharami, 28.

Police have already detained Shah Alam Gharami and his sister Sharmin Begum in connection with the incident and are trying to arrest their associates, OC Harun-or-Rashid said.

Filing of a case by the victim’s family over the incident was underway, the OC added.