Pre-Polls Violence: Clash kills one in Madaripur
A man was killed and five people were injured in a clash between supporters of two union parishad chairman candidates in Madaripur's Shibchar upazila.
Elias Dhali, 45, a fruit trader, died of his wounds at his in-law's home in Shakepur of the same upazila yesterday morning, hours after he sustained injuries in the clash. He was from Decrirchar village in Shibchar.
Locals said Abbas Munshari, supporter of chairman candidate Jahangir Bepari, had an altercation with Majbiur Rahman, supporter of another candidate Chan Miah Talukdar, in Decrirchar around 9:00pm on Wednesday.
When the news spread in the area, supporters of both the candidates, armed with machetes and other local weapons, clashed, leaving at least six people, including several women, wounded.
The injured were taken to Shibchar Upazila Health Complex. Badly injured Rubel was referred to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital in Faridpur.
The two UP chairman hopefuls went to the health complex at night to see the injured. At that time, both the groups clashed again in front of the health complex. Sensing trouble, some of the injured, including Elias, escaped the medical facility.
Elias went to his in-law's house in Shakepur where he died around 5:00am yesterday.
Md Miraj Hossain, officer-in-charge of Shibchar Police Station, said police rushed to the health complex and brought the situation under control.
Police later recovered Elias' body from his in-law's house and sent it to Madaripur General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
Two cases were filed by both the feuding groups with Shibchar Police Station yesterday over the clashes.
Police arrested four people in Shibchar yesterday in connection with the cases. A local court sent the arrestees to jail after they were produced before it, the OC added.
Three of the injured were undergoing treatment in different hospitals in Faridpur and Shibchar yesterday.
The election to Kadirpur Union Parishad was scheduled for April 11, but it was postponed due to the pandemic. Jahangir and Chan Miah are contesting the election.
Despite repeated attempts, this newspaper could not reach either of the chairman candidates over the phone for comments.