One killed in UP polls violence

With elections due in 732 union parishads tomorrow, one man was killed and scores others were injured in pre-polls violence in different places of the country yesterday.

Candidates, vying for different posts in the lowest tier of the local government, wrapped up their campaigns 11:59pm last night.

Voting will begin at 8:00am and continue till 4:00pm tomorrow in the UPs that are going to polls tomorrow in the first of the six-phase elections. Restrictions on the movement of motorised vehicles will be in place for 24 hours since midnight tonight.

Some 1.8 lakh law enforcers would be deployed across the country to maintain law and order during the polls, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque.

In the subsequent phases, elections are due in 643 UPs on March 31 and in 681 UPs on April 23. Around 2,200 UPs will go to polls in three more phases till June.

Meanwhile, elections were held in 10 municipalities yesterday and Awami League-backed chairman candidates won in all of them.

Incidents of violence were reported in five of the municipalities. A man was killed in police firing and 50 others were injured in violence.

UP POLLS VIOLENCE

In Pabna, a man was killed and 10 others were injured in a clash between the supporters of AL-backed chairman candidate Korban Ali and AL's rebel candidate Nasir Uddin at Dhalarchar UP under Bera upazila on Saturday night.

The deceased was identified as Goher Mondol, 30, of Khoyerbagan village.

Biplob Chakraborty, an independent chairman aspirant of Ruppur UP under the same upazila, alleged that miscreants had attacked his home on Friday night.

In Noakhali, at least 10 people were injured as the supporters of AL-nominated chairman candidate Shafiullah clashed with their rivals at Char Kakra UP under Companiganj upazila on Saturday night.

Several home-made bombs were hurled, shots fired and some thirty houses looted during a clash between the supporters of two councillor aspirants at Dangha UP in Palash upazila of Narsingdi on Saturday night, reports our correspondent there.

In Jamalpur, 22 local AL leaders, including 19 rebel chairman aspirants, were expelled for going against the party decision.

In Barisal, a chairman aspirant was sent to jail yesterday after he announced that he would commit suicide if the elections were not free and fair in Kazirchar UP under Muladi upazila.

IGP'S BRIEFING

IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque said actions would be taken if anyone violated the code of conduct during the UP polls.

At a press briefing in the police headquarters yesterday, he said at least seven people were killed and 580 were injured in 208 clashes across the country in pre-polls violence.

As many as 143 cases and 55 general diaries were filed while law enforcers detained 95 persons in connection with the incidents, the police chief added.

MUNICIPAL POLLS

The 10 municipalities that went to polls yesterday are Haragach in Rangpur; Kaliganj in Jhenaidah; Jhalakathi; Bhanga in Faridpur; Brahmanbaria; Nangalkot in Comilla; Kabirhat in Noakhali; Sonagazi in Feni and Chakoria and Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar.

AL favourites won the chairman posts in all of them.

Voting in at least five of the municipalities was marked by violence and irregularities.

In Maheshkhali, a man was killed and around 29 others were bullet-hit as police swung into action to disperse a mob that allegedly attempted to occupy the Ghonarpara Forkania Madrasa voting centre around 3:30pm.

Abdul Sukkur, 24, died of bullet wounds while being taken to a local hospital.

Incidents of violence and irregularities were also reported in Chakoria, Jhalakathi, Kabirhat and Sonagazi municipalities.

Elections to 234 municipalities out of the country's 323 were held on December 30 last year. Since then, the Election Commission has been conducting polls to the rest of the municipalities in different phases.