UP poll violence: 2 injured victims die

Two persons, who were injured in separate clashes in Thakurgaon and Gaibandha during the fourth union parishad elections, died early today.

With this, the death toll from the yesterday’s polls violence reached to eight.

THAKURGAON

Asma Begum, 58, died at her house at Beulbari village in Baliadangi upazila around 2:00am, hours after she suffered head injuries during a clash between the supporters of two member candidates, said Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge of Baliadangi Police Station.

The clash ensued around 10:30pm between the supporters of -- Gul Mohammad and Solaiman Ali -- following an altercation over yesterday’s polls, our Thakurgaon correspondent reports quoting the OC.  

Asma, a supporter of Solaiman, was given treatment by a local doctor.

GAIBANDHA

Mostak, an activist of Awami League was injured during a clash in Sadullahpur upazila last night.  He succumbed to his injuries at Rangpur Medical College Hospital around 2:00am, UNB reports.

Superintendent of police Ashraful Islam told UNB that local leaders and activists of AL rebel candidates staged a demonstration following delay in publishing election result in Dhaperhat union parishad last night.

Supporters of AL rebel candidate Rafiqul Islam Nausa blockaded the Dhaka-Rangpur highway around 10:45pm.

Informed, police rushed in and tried to disperse them.

At one stage, the activists hurled stones and brickbats at the law enforcers, triggering a chase and counter-chase, UNB adds.

They also vandalised two police pickups. In retaliation, police charged baton and opened fire.

Twenty-one people, including Mostak, were injured during the melee.

Among the injured were 11 police officials, including Assistant Superintendent of Police Rabiul Islam and Sadullahpur Police Station Officer-in-charge Farhad Imrul Kayes, and UNO Abu Raihan Dolan.