A man was killed and 25 others were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over gambling at Raghobendrapur village in Sadullapur upazila of the district yesterday.

The dead was identified as Abu Taleb, 45, of Tilakpur village in the upazila.

Of the injured, one was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital in a critical condition while the rest were admitted to Sadullapur Upazila Health Complex.

Police quoted locals as saying that some youths led by Edilpur Union Parishad (UP) member Noor Mohanmmed arranged gambling at a Baishakhi fair at Raghobendrapur cluster village.

Two groups of people belonging to Tilakpara and Raghobendrapur locked in an altercation over the issue at around 11:00am yesterday.

Later, the two groups equipped with lethal weapons swooped on each other, leaving Abu Taleb dead and 25 others from both sides injured.

Being informed, police went to the spot, dispersed the clashing groups and brought the situation under control. UP member Noor Mohammed was also assaulted by local people during the clash, said Hasanur Rahman, chairman of the union.

Police recovered Taleb's body from the spot and sent it to Gaibandha Sadar for autopsy. None was arrested in connection with the incident as of 5:00pm yesterday.

Police have been deployed in the area to avert any further clash, said Officer-in-Charge Zia Latiful Islam of Sadullapur Police Station.