High security alert, lax in duty

But the huge number of law enforcers and officials could not ensure foolproof security during the election in Jalla union in Uzirpur upazila under Barisal district, held on Sunday.

Local people and many voters claimed stray incidents of violence and intimidation marked the by-polls but election officials said it was peaceful, free and fair.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Uzirpur UNO and election coordinator Md. Azam Khan and Returning Officer Md. Jasim Uddin said the election was free, fair and peaceful barring some stray incidents.

Nine of the 11 magistrates were stationed at the nine pooling centres and two were on mobile duty as all the nine pooling centres were earlier declared vulnerable.

Asked by newsmen after the polls, ASPs (Additional Police Superintendents) Sirajul Islam and Farhad Hossain declined to make any comment.

Political circles there said the by-election in Jalla union was a prestige fight for opposition Awami League and ruling BNP.

Awami League men held the post of the UP chairman for the last 15 years. About eighty-five percent of voters in the union are of Hindu community.

This time also, Urmila Baroi, wife of slain UP chairman Aboni Baroi, won the by-polls, defeating her BNP rival with a big margin. She got 6338 votes against 3203 of BNP-backed Jalal Mallik.

The post fell vacant following the murder of Aboni Baroi on May 23.

Two rival groups of outlaws, known as sarbaharas, were active in the area for days before the polls and on the polling day, sources said. The Zia group supports Awami League and the Kamrul group supports the ruling party.

Local people alleged that the rival outlaws displayed arms, exploded bombs and intimidated voters during days before the polls.

The Kamrul group threatened voters not to go to the pooling centers.

On the election day, armed outlaws belonging to Kamrul group created "check posts" at different points to prevent voters from going to polling centres, many voters alleged.

They attacked and chased voters in front of police at about 11-30 am at South Bahergati center in Ward No.9.

Sarbahara cadres Humaun Sikder, Majibur Rahman, Hanif Howlader, Anis Bepari of Kamrul group blasted

crackers outside the centre.

At about 12-15 pm, outlaws supporting the ruling party abducted Urmila Baroi's election agents Alomoti Baroi and Dhirendra Chandra Baroi and three voters -- Shyamol Halder, Nikhil and Swapon Baroi-- from Shahid Swaranika center in Ward No. 4.

Alomoti Baroi and Shyamol Halder were later rescued from a road side and sent to Goila hospital. Condition of Shayamol was critical. Alomoti and Shyamol later told police that they were abducted and tortured by Kamrul group cadres Humaun Kabir, Mahbub and Hiru.

The Sarbahara cadres also threatened local journalist Nazrul Biswas not to go close to the centre, he alleged.

They also attacked, ransacked and looted the houses of Bidya Rani Biswas and Kajal Rani in Jallar Par in Ward No. 7 as they were supporters of Urmila Baroi.