A van driver was hacked to death during a clash between two rival teenage gangs in Badarganj upazila of Rangpur on Tuesday evening.

The deceased was identified as Ariful Islam, 25, son of Rezaul Islam of Pathanpara village under Ward No. 9 of the municipal area, was attacked around 6:30pm in the Baluavata area.

According to police and local sources, members of a teenage gang, including Mominul, had appeared before a Rangpur court earlier in the day in connection with a case. At the court premises, a rival group led by Firoz Shah, also known as “Murder Firoz,” allegedly attacked Mominul’s group, leaving several people injured. The matter was later settled there.

However, tensions flared again later in the day when Mominul’s group, reportedly seeking revenge, went out with locally made weapons in search of the rival group.

At one stage, a clash broke out between the two groups in Badarganj, during which Ariful, who was not involved in the conflict, was critically injured. He was declared dead after being taken to the hospital.

A doctor at Badarganj Upazila Health Complex said Ariful died on the way to the hospital.

Officer-in-Charge of Badarganj Police Station Hasan Zahid Sarkar said the victim was attacked after being identified as a resident of Pathanpara.

He added that Firoz has multiple cases, including three murder cases, filed against him. A new case has been filed over the incident.