Twelve persons were injured in a clash between two families over a land dispute at Odlabari in Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday.

Sources said Nitai Barman, a Trinamul panchayat member of Odlabari panchayat, that is under Malbazar police station of Jalpaiguri district, and his family members have a dispute for years over the possession of a piece of land with Kamal Barman, one of his neighbours. Both the families reside in Barmanpara of Odlabari.

“On Monday, the families got involved in an altercation at a wedding and clashed with each other. Other guests at

the wedding intervened and stopped them. Again on Tuesday, the families got involved in a brawl and attacked each other with bamboo sticks, iron rods and bricks,” said a source.

“Twelve persons were injured in the clash. Kamal sustained serious injuries and

is under treatment at a private nursing home in Siliguri. He is in a critical condition. The other injured are under treatment at the local health centre in Odlabari,” the source added.

Police have arrested Nitai, the panchayat member, and his son Amit for perpetrating violence.

Land grabbers

The Siliguri Metropolitan Police have arrested another 12 persons in the past 48 hours in their ongoing drive against land grabbers and those engaged in illegal extraction of minor minerals.

Altogether, 52 persons have been arrested so far within the Siliguri police commissionerate area during the past few days, police sources said on Wednesday.

Last month, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed Gautam Sharma, the commissioner of police, to take steps against such people who are involved in shabby land deals and are extracting sand, pebbles and stones from river beds without permission.