Fifth-phase up polls: 10 lives lost to violence
At least 10 people were killed in the fifth phase of the union parishad polls yesterday as the voting was marred by violence in several districts.
Clashes took place when supporters of rival candidates tried to capture centres and snatch ballot papers. Journalists came under attack in one union in Chattogram while a building of a polling centre in Shariatpur was set on fire.
Election Commission Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker, however, said apart from some stray incidents, the polling was largely peaceful. He estimated the voter turnout at 70 percent.
Voting was suspended at nine centres, he said, adding that 707 unions in 48 districts went to polls yesterday.
With the fresh casualties, at least 86 people have been killed in election violence after the staggered UP polls began in mid-June last year, according to media reports.
Of the 10 dead, five were killed in Bogura, two in Chandpur while one each in Chattogram, Gaibandha and Manikganj districts, reported our correspondents there.
Four people were killed as law enforcers opened fire after they came under attack inside the Kalaihata High School polling centre in Baliadighi union in Bogura's Gabtali upazila, said Ali Haider Chowdhury, additional superintendent of police in the district.
Contacted, on-duty magistrate Asif Ahmed told The Daily Star, "We were attacked by supporters of a chairman candidate when we were counting votes at the centre. The presiding officer, Ansar members and other law enforcers were attacked, leaving at least 17 injured. They broke my leg. I ordered law enforcers to open fire to protect our lives."
The four deceased were identified as Mohammad Alamgir, Abdul Rashied, Korshed Akadna and Kulshum, said police.
Zakir Hossain, 30, a house painter, was stabbed to death during a clash between supporters of two member candidates in Rameshwarpur union of the same upazila, said Gabtali Model Police Station OC Zia Latiful Islam.
In Chandpur, miscreants stabbed to death Sharif Hossain, 18, a supporter of member candidate named Zakir Hossain in Kachua's Sachar union, around 3:30pm, said Milon Mahmud, superintendent of police in the district.
A 28-year-old man, a supporter of Awami League's chairman candidate in Haimchar union, was also stabbed to death by miscreants, he said.
In Chatari union of Chattogram's Anwara upazila, Ankur Dutta, 38, a supporter of a member candidate, Dhananjay Biswas, was critically injured in a clash with supporters of rival candidate Raghunath Sarkar, said SP SM Rashidul Haque.
Dhananjay was rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital where he died, said Sub-inspector Alauddin Talukder of CMCH police camp.
In Hashimpur union of the district, a sub-inspector of police, Shahadat Hossain, was injured after followers of independent chairman candidate Mohammed Mozammel tried to occupy a polling centre, said Anwar Hossain, OC of Chandanaish Police Station.
Police fired two shots to bring the situation under control, he said.
Three journalists were injured when several vehicles were vandalised during Karaldenga union polls in Boalkhali upazila.
In Gaibandha, Abu Taher, 40, was stabbed to death as supporters of two member candidates clashed near Adarsha College polling station in Jummabari union of Saghata upazila, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sardar Mostafa Shahin.
A woman, Somela Khatun, 50, was hurt after she found herself in the middle of a clash between supporters of two member candidates in Bachamara union in Manikganj's Daulatpur upazila. She died later.
Supporters of independent chairman candidate Delwar Hossain Bepari set fire to a building of Dulukhanda Government Primary School centre in Bhojeshshor union of Shariatpur's Naria upazila in the afternoon, said witnesses.
The attackers fired shots, exploded several crude bombs, even beat up some voters before the law enforcers opened fire to disperse them, said the witnesses.
Presiding officer Abdul Wadud said voting at the centre was postponed as miscreants took away around 3000 ballot papers. Motorbikes of two journalists were also burnt, he said.
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