Municipality Polls: One killed, several hurt in clashes in Gopalpur

A man was killed and several others were injured yesterday in clashes between supporters of two mayoral candidates in the upcoming polls in Tangail's Gopalpur municipality.

Supporters of Awami League candidate and Gopalpur municipality Mayor Rakibul Haque clashed with followers of AL rebel candidate Gias Uddin in Gopalpur Bazar and Someshpur areas in the evening, said police and witnesses.

Mohammad Khalil, 35, a rickshaw-van puller from Dubail Atpara village, was fatally injured during clashes in Someshpur area around 7:30pm. He was rushed to Gopalpur Upazila Health Complex, according to witnesses. 

"Khalil died from wounds in different parts of his body, including the head, around 7:45pm," Dr Alim Al Razi, upazila health and family planning officer in Gopalpur, told this newspaper.

Contacted, Superintendent of Police in Tangail Sanjit Kumar Roy, however, said it appeared that Khalil was killed in a separate incident, not in the clashes, as the spot of the incident was away from the places where the skirmishes took place.

The situation is now under control and additional law enforcers have been deployed in the area to ward off any untoward incident, he added.

It could not be confirmed whether Khalil was a supporter of any of the two mayoral candidates. The mobile phones of both Rakibul and Gias Uddin were found switched off last night.

The house of the AL rebel candidate and a shop owned by one of his brothers were vandalised during the clashes, KM Mithu, a nephew of Gias Uddin, told this correspondent.

Besides, Rakibul's election office in Gopalpur Bazar area came under attack. A vehicle was also set on fire, according to police and witnesses.

There have been tensions in the municipality after local AL leader Gias Uddin announced that he would run against AL-nominated candidate Rakibul in the municipality polls slated for February 14.