One held for opening fire during Wari clash

Police arrested a man early yesterday for shooting during a clash between supporters of BNP and Awami League candidates in the city’s Wari area on Sunday.

Police claimed the man is a personal assistant of Ishraque Hossain, BNP’s mayoral candidate for DSCC. Ishraque, however, denied this while talking to reporters near his Gopibagh house, saying he has no assistant. 

Ariful Islam (47) was held from Hatirjheel area in possession of a gun and 50 bullets, said Abdul Baten, additional commissioner (detective) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, at a press briefing at DMP Media Centre yesterday.

Ariful was a former leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the police officer said.

The bullet shell recovered from the spot primarily matched with bullets in his gun, Abdul Baten said, adding that a case will be filed against him under the arms act.

The arrestee was identified after examination of video footage collected from nearby areas, the police officer said, claiming Ariful admitted to opening fire on that day during primary interrogation.

“I’m contesting as a BNP candidate. Thousands of leaders are coming, volunteering and participating in my various activities. I don’t know what the outsider [Ariful] said. All I can say is propaganda is being spread to divert people’s attention, seeing the wave of support for us,” he said when reporters asked about the police claim.  

On Sunday, supporters of Ishraque and AL-backed councillor candidate Rokon Uddin Ahmed clashed during campaigning, leaving at least 15 people injured.

Several gunshots were heard during the clash, and a number of vehicles were vandalised.

Police arrested several BNP men after a local AL leader field a case accusing around 200 BNP leaders and activists after the incident.