Pre-polls violence leaves 40 hurt, 10 arrested

At least 40 people were injured in pre-Union Parishad (UP) poll violence in Jamalpur and Thakurgaon districts yesterday and the day before.

More than 30 people were injured in a clash between the supporters of Awami League nominated chairman aspirant and an independent chairman aspirant in Dhanua-Kamalpur union under Bakshiganj upazila of Manikganj on Tuesday night.

The election in the union is scheduled to be held on May 7, reports our correspondent.

Police and locals said supporters of independent chairman candidate Mostafa Kamal went to Tengramari village for election campaign around 10:30pm.

The supporters of AL candidate Jubaer Hassan Hitlar, who allegedly tried to resist the supporters of Mostofa, claimed that the supporters of the independent candidate were involved in purchasing votes.

At one stage, the supporters of the AL candidate vandalised four houses and a shop of supporters of the independent candidate. They also vandalized the election office of Mostofa set up at the village.    

The supporters of the AL candidate again attacked a house belonging to Mahabubul Haque Babul Chistee, brother-in-law of the independent candidate, at Mridhapara intersection in the union around 11:00pm, triggering a fierce clash.

At least 30 people from both sides were injured during the incident, said police.

AL candidate's supporters also vandalized five motorbikes of the supporters of the independent candidate at Dhanua-Kamalpur Bazar and an election camp there, said Aslam Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bakshiganj Police Station.

On information, police rushed to the spot, fired at least 73 blank shots and brought the situation under control. They also arrested 10 people in connection with the incident, said the OC.

The arrestees are Sultan Ahmed, 50, Gulbadsha, 30, Masud Hassan, 50, Delwar Hossain, 45, Billal Hossain, 40, Nur-e-Alam, 50, Munaem Sarkar, 45, Alam Miah, 40, Imam Hossain, 42, and Suja Miah, 50, supporters of AL chairman candidate and activists of the ruling party.

Four cases were filed with the police station against 250 named and 750 unnamed supporters of the AL nominated candidate and the party's activists.

Away in Thakurgaon, at least 10 people were injured in a clash between the supporters of two chairman candidates at Dotpara village in Sadar upazila of the district early yesterday, reports our correspondent.

The injured are Jamal Hossain, 28, Hazrat Ali, 26, Sufi, 32, Alam, 30, Khademul, 28, Sohel, 26, Abu Kalam, 32, Somel, 35, Arif Hossain, 25, and Ashir Uddin, 30.

A group of supporters of individual chairman aspirant Amir Hossain led by his son Kibria went to the village to distribute money among the voters, alleged locals.

Amir Hossain's supporters attacked another candidate Nurul Islam's supporter as they tried to resist them. At lease 10 supports of Nurul sustained injuries during the incident.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Md Shahrier, officer-in-charge of Ruhea Police Station.