Three members of a family were allegedly stabbed by their rivals over the payment of debt money in Dhaka’s Banani early today.

The victims were Sumon Mia, 45, his wife Sonia, 38, and Sonia's brother Rasel, 40.

Quoting locals, relatives of the injured and police sources, Jane Alam, sub-inspector of Banani Police Station, said Sumon had arranged to meet a man named Arif near Mohakhali Wireless Sishu Mela School at around 4:30am.

Sumon, a resident of Mohakhali T&T Colony, went there with his wife and brother-in-law Rasel, while Arif arrived with seven to eight others, he said.

An altercation ensued between Arif and Sumon over the payment of debt money, the SI said, adding that at one stage, they allegedly beat Sumon, Sonia and Rasel and stabbed them indiscriminately, leaving all three injured.

Hearing their screams, locals rushed to the scene and took them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police are trying to arrest the attackers, the SI added.