Rivals torch 10 motorbikes, injure six
At least ten motorcycles were torched on Tuesday night during a clash between rivalling supporters of candidates contesting upazila parishad election in Patgram upazila.
Six people were also injured in the clash that took place at Burimari Bazar on Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway.
The injured were given primary treatment at Patgram Upazila Health Complex, said Officer-in-Charge Sajjad Hossain of Patgram Police Station.
The clash was between supporters of Awami League-nominated candidate Ruhul Amin Babu and his opponent Wazedul Islam Shaheen, a dissident in the same party, police and locals said.
The supporters of the AL candidate first launched an attack against their opponent's supporters. They vandalised and set fire to six motorcycles. The supporters of the opponent soon regrouped and also torched four motorcycles.
Protesting the attack, Wazedul's supporters later blockaded Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway for almost an hour till 11:00pm when they were dispersed by police.
Wazedul, also an executive member of AL's Patgram upazila unit, said “My supporters and I are facing obstructions while campaigning for the polls in the upazila as the supporters of the AL candidate are always creating unnecessary obstacles.”
Rebutting the accusations, AL candidate Ruhul Amin said it was the known criminals of the upazila who are ruining a peaceful atmosphere by campaigning for the rival candidate and issuing threats on his supporters.
OC Sajjad of Patgram Police Station said, the situation in the area was brought under control by bringing in reinforcements and as of yesterday afternoon, no one filed any case regarding the clash.
Shafiul Arif, deputy commissioner of Lalmonirhat, said stern action will be taken against anyone causing an untoward situation. “We are committed to holding the upazila polls in a peaceful atmosphere.”
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