Noakhali  Correspondent:

Police have yet to arrest anyone over the deaths of five people killed in a violent shootout over control of a sandbar in Hatiya, Noakhali.

No case has been filed even 24 hours after the incident, police said on Wednesday, while no firearms have been recovered either.

Police sent the bodies of four victims from Hatiya Police to the Noakhali General Hospital morgue on Wednesday morning for postmortem. The body of another victim had been taken to the same morgue earlier on Tuesday afternoon.

Officer Saiful Alam, chief of Hatiya Police said they would file a case only if family members of the dead submit formal complaints.

One of the injured, Mohammad Sohab, 30, was admitted to the Hatiya Upazila Health Complex under police supervision. Sohab is the son of Khabir Uddin from Ward No. 7 of Nijhum Dwip.

Police said the clash erupted on Tuesday morning over control of Jaglar Char under Sukhchar Union, where members of the Shamsu group and the Alauddin group exchanged gunfire throughout the day. More than 10 others were also injured in the violence.

The dead were identified as Mohammad Alauddin, 35, son of Mahiyuddin of Char Amanullah village; Kamal Uddin, 40, son of the late Seku Mia of Naler Char under Chandandi Union; Mobarak Hossain Sihab, 23, son of Shamsuddin from Ward No. 2 of Jahajmara Union; Hoksab, 55, son of the late Shah Alam of West Lakhidia identified by a single name; and Abul Kashem, 62, son of the late Zainal Abedin of South Char Majid in Subarnachar upazila.

Police said Alauddin was a group leader, while Mobarak Hossain Shihab was the son of another faction leader, known only as Shamsu.

While Shamsu’s wife Mahfuza Begum has recovered her son’s body, she is still searching for her husband.

Residents of Jaglar Char said fear has gripped the zone since the killings and demanded immediate law-enforcing operations against armed groups.

Officer Saiful said no written complaint has yet been received and legal action will be taken once one is filed.