AL rebel held after man dies in pre-polls violence

Police in Patuakhali on Monday night arrested a rebel AL candidate after a 70-year-old Awami League activist died of injuries suffered during pre-polls violence in Nazirpur Bangla Bazar area on July 8.

Ami Hossain Mridha of Nazirpur Taterkathi union died at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital around 8:00pm. He was also a supporter of Ibrahim Faruk, the ruling-party backed candidate for the post of union parishad chairman in the by-elections slated for July 27.

After his death, police arrested rebel AL candidate SM Mohsin and two supporters, Zahir Khan, 30, and Md Farooq Hossain, 40, around 9:30pm the same day, said Al Mamun, OC of Baufal Police Station.

According to police and locals, Amir Hossain and nine others were injured during a clash between supporters of AL-backed candidate and the rebel candidate.

Mridha's son filed a case with Baufal Police Station on July 9.