2 more killed in pre-polls clashes

Two siblings were hacked to death and 30 other people injured in attacks and clashes between supporters of rival union parishad chairman and member candidates in Meherpur and Pabna in the last two days over Thursday's polls.

With the latest deaths, at least 17 people have been killed in pre-polls violence in about a month, according to media reports.

In most of the cases, clashes took placed between supporters of ruling Awami League men.

On November 2, Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda had said the commission was embarrassed at the electoral violence. He also expressed concern over the matter.

A total of 846 union parishads will go to polls on November 11 in the second phase.

In Meherpur, the two siblings were killed and 10 more people injured in an attack on supporters of a UP member candidate by followers of his rival in Gangni upazila yesterday morning.

The deceased -- Jaharul Islam, 55, and Sahadul Islam, 50, -- were from Dhala village in the same upazila.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Ajmain Hossain Tutul, incumbent member of Kathuli Union Parishad and also a hopeful for the same post in Thursday's election, said he along with some of his supporters were conducting an electoral campaign in Dhala village around 9:15am.

All of a sudden, a group of people, led by his rival candidate Atiar Rahman, attacked them with sharp weapons, leaving 12, including the siblings, injured.

Ajmain said he was also hurt in the attack. At one stage, he managed to flee and take shelter in a nearby house.

The siblings were later sent to Gangni upazila health complex where doctors declared them dead, said the UP member candidate.

Ajmain said the deceased were his cousins. He said he along with the other injured was undergoing treatment at the health complex.

This newspaper could not contact Atiar Rahman over the phone for comments as it was switched off.

According to locals, both Ajmain and Atiar are pro-Awami League men.

Gangni Police Station OC Bazlur Rahman said additional law enforcers were deployed in Dhala village to avert any further deterioration in law and order.

No case was filed in connection with the incident till last evening. Police detained 12 people from the area for interrogation, the OC added.

Ajmain alleged that his younger brother Enamul Hossain Nailu was hacked to death by Atiar and his associates a few years ago. A case in this connection is now under trial.

In Pabna's Sujanagar upazila, at least 10 people were injured, three of them by bullets, in a gunfight between supporters of Awami League and party "rebel" chairman candidates in Manikhaat union on Sunday night.

AL chairman nominee Shafiul Alam said he along with his supporters went to Bonkola Bazar area around 8:00pm on Sunday for campaigning.

At that time, followers of party "rebel" candidate Abbas Ali Mollik attacked them and opened fire, Shafiul alleged.

Abbas and Shafiul are the president and general secretary of Manikhaat union AL.

Refuting the allegations, Abbas said Shafiul's followers attacked his men during electioneering.

Sujanagar Police Station OC Md Mizanur Rahman said Shafiul yesterday filed a complaint with police in connection with the incident.

Police were investigating the incident and additional law enforcers were deployed in the area, he added.

In Ishwardi upazila of Pabna, at least 10 people were injured in another clash in Lokhmikunda union yesterday afternoon.

Locals said supporters of AL chairman nominee Anis Sorif and party "rebel" candidate Anish Mollah were carrying out electoral campaigns in Nabinagar village around 4:30pm.

At one stage, they came face to face and clashed, causing injuries to supporters of both the candidates, said locals.

Ishwardi Police Station OC Md Asaduzzaman said additional policemen were deployed in the area as tension was prevailing there.