Election 2008

40 hurt in poll clashes in 3 dists

27 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Star Report

Forty people were injured, several of them seriously, in clashes between opponent election activists at places in Patuakhali, Magura and Rajshahi districts in two days. In Patuakhal, 15 Awami League supporters including a woman were injured as BNP activists attacked them at Chatia village in Rangabali under Patuakhali-4 (Kalapara) constituency yesterday morning, reports our correspondent. Some 10/12 unidentified BNP cadres attacked them for joining an AL rally at Kalapara upazila town the previous day, police and locals said. At least five BNP men were injured at Daspara village in Baufal uapzila under Patuakhali-2 constituency as AL cadres attacked them at about 9:30pm of Friday. Attackers also set fire to two motorcycles and damaged another. Seven or eight AL cadres led by Jahangir Hossain attacked BNP activists during their meeting at the campaign office at Daspara village, locals and police said. In Magura, 15 people were injured, seven of them seriously, in a clash between the supporters of Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance and BNP-led four-party alliance at village Ramchandrapur in Magura Sadar upazila yesterday morning. At least 22 houses including that of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal district unit Secretary ATM Mohabbat Ali were also damaged during the clash. The clash that followed chanting 'indecent' slogans against the grand alliance candidate and tearing some posters at around 8:00am spread to two nearby villages, police and witnesses said. In Rajshahi, four BNP men were injured as Awami League activists attacked their election campaign procession for four-party alliance candidate Dr Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-1 constituency at Charasadiaha in Godagari upazila in Rajshahi on Friday nigh. The BNP leaders and activists came under the attack after they chanted slogans against AL chief Sheikh Hasina and the grand alliance candidate in the seat, locals said. Later, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. A large number of police were deployed at Charasadiaha as a tense situation is prevailing in the area. BNP activists attacked Bikalpo Dhara election campaign rally at Arani in Charghat upazila in the district, leaving one injured on Friday evening.