A youth died and two children got injured after a Trinamul leader and his aides allegedly fired pellets at them on Wednesday morning during an altercation over a plot of land in Islampur subdivision of North Dinajpur.

Trinamul leadership in the area, however, have denied the involvement of their party colleague, Mohammad Taimul, and said he was not present when pellets were fired.

A police team rushed to the spot at Bandiragach village under Islampur police station and recovered the body. Both the injured are under treatment at the Islampur sub-division hospital.

The attackers fled the spot.

Police sources have that said the deceased Mohammad Faiyal, 24, who was a resident of Bandiragach village, had been having a dispute with Taimul, one of his relatives and also the Trinamul member of the local Agdimkhunti panchayat, over the possession of a piece of land.

During preliminary investigation, the police have also come to know that recently a “salishi sabha” (local kangaroo court) was recently held in the village where it was agreed that Taimul would stop claiming ownership of that piece of land if Faiyal handed him some compensation in cash.

“For past new days, Taimul had been asking for the money and Faiyal apparently was buying time,” said a police source.

“On Wednesday, Taimul and some of his associates reached the latter’s place and asked for the money. An altercation ensued and Taimul and those accompanied him fired pellets at Faiyal and his family members,” the policeman said.

As Faiyal’s family raised an outcry, some locals came out, prompting the attackers to escape the spot.

Faiyal and two other children of his family, who are 10 and 13 years old, respectively, were rushed to Islampur subdivisional hospital where doctors pronounced the youth dead.

A police team went to the spot and started investigation. “The attackers have fled the village. Searches are on to nab them,” said a police officer.

Trinamul leaders of Islampur block, however, have denied Taimul’s involvement in the incident.

“Taimul was not present at the spot. It is the fallout of a family dispute but some people are trying to victimise him for political reasons,” said Zakir Hossain, a Trinamul leader.