A woman was killed and at least 40 people were injured in a violent clash between residents of two villages over ownership of a disputed char on the border of Titas and Meghna upazilas in Cumilla on Sunday afternoon.

The deceased was identified as 35-year-old Kohinur Begum, wife of trawler driver Kabil Mia of Alipur village. Confirming the death, Meghna Police Station OC Md Shahidul Islam said she was found with a spear lodged in her neck. Her body was recovered and taken to Meghna Upazila Health Complex.

The clash broke out between residents of Char Bhatera village in Titas upazila and Alipur and Char Binatpur villages in Meghna upazila, continuing until evening.

Police and local sources said tension escalated after two Char Bhatera residents were allegedly assaulted and detained at the Meghna Sub-Registrar’s Office earlier in the day. Villagers later rescued them, sparking the confrontation.

The violence turned into a two-hour spear battle, leaving 15 people from Titas and 25 from Meghna injured. The wounded were admitted to Titas and Meghna Upazila Health Complexes, while three critically injured victims – Swapan, 27, and Sagar, 40, of Char Binatpur, and Jasim Uddin, 38, of Char Bhatera – were referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Following the incident, additional police were deployed in both areas. Titas Police Station OC Md Mamirul Haque said 25 personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order, adding that the situation was under control since evening.

Meghna Police Station OC Md Shahidul Islam said police were stationed at the scene, the woman’s body was kept at Meghna Upazila Health Complex, and an investigation was underway.

On June 15, a similar clash over ownership of char land along the Titas-Meghna border led to widespread vandalism between rival groups.