Post-polls violence continues
An Awami League activist was hacked to death, another suffered stab injuries and two union parishad chairmen were assaulted in post-election violence in three districts yesterday and Monday night.
Besides, independent lawmaker-elect Abdul Latif Siddique and his supporters blocked a highway in Tangail for around two hours yesterday, demanding release of their detained fellows.
In Jhenidah, Barun Ghosh, 42, a supporter of defeated AL candidate for Jhenidah-2 Tahjib Alom Siddique, was hacked to death by criminals in the district town's Ghoshpara area yesterday evening.
"Barun went out of home to have a cup of tea. At that time, some people attacked him and stabbed him. His hands and legs were severed from the body," said victim's elder brother Arun Kumar Ghosh.
"As Barun worked for the Awami League candidate, he often got threats from the supporters of an independent candidate," alleged Arun.
Contacted, Tahjib confirmed that Barun was his supporter.
"I heard of the killing a few minutes ago. I cannot say immediately who killed Barun," he told The Daily Star around 8:00pm.
Independent Nasser Shahrear Zahedee, who won in this constituency, could not be contacted over phone for comments.
Shahin Uddin, officer-in-charge of Jhenidah Sadar Police Station said, "An activist of Awami League was hacked to death by criminals around 7:00pm. We cannot say anything more about the murder immediately. We are investigating."
In Pirojpur, a man sustained stab injuries as the followers of AL lawmaker-elect for Pirojpur-1 SM Rezaul Karim and defeated independent AKMA Awal clashed in Nazirpur upazila on Monday night.
Injured Laiju Sheikh, 30, of Raghunathpur village, is Rezaul's man, said locals.
The clash broke out when supporters of Rezaul attacked the houses of Awal's supporters in the village around 8:30pm, said witnesses.
Awal's supporter Shanto Khan, also a former Bangladesh Chhatra League leader, alleged that they first came under attack by some 30-40 supporters of the AL nominee.
However, Babul Khan, a close aide to the AL candidate, denied the allegation and said their rivals attacked them first and stabbed Laiju indiscriminately.
Laiju's father Moslem Sheikh filed a case accusing 30 people, and police arrested two of them, said Md Ziauddin, inspector of Nazirpur Police Station.
Two union parishad chairmen were assaulted allegedly by the supporters of AL lawmaker-elect for Rajshahi-1 Omor Faruk Chowdhury.
Nizamuddin Babu, chairman of Talondo union of Tanore upazila, alleged that some 12 men of Omar Faruk attacked him in Tanore Bazar yesterday noon. He filed a case in the afternoon.
One was arrested in this connection, said Abdur Rahim, OC of Tanore Police Station.
In another incident, Mashidul Gani Masud, chairman of Godagari Union Parishad of Godagari upazila, came under attack in Rajshahi city on Monday night.
"I tried to lodge a case with Boalia Police Station in the city. But police recorded it as a general diary," he alleged.
Contacted, Humayun Kabir, OC of the police station, said, "The incident was not as big that a case had to be filed. Besides, the complainant wanted to record a GD, not a case."
Omor Faruk said the incidents occurred as local leaders are fighting with each other over personal enmity.
"I asked all sides to show patience and work together.
In Tangail-4 constituency, Latif Siddique, along with several hundreds of his supporters, blocked the Tangail-Mymensingh highway for around two hours yesterday, demanding release of his six supporters, who were detained over attacking their rivals on Monday night.
Four of the six detainees were released, said Md Sharfuddin, additional superintendent of Tangail police.
Meanwhile, two defeated AL candidates in Tangail yesterday alleged that their rivals have unleased terror in their respective areas after winning the polls.
Mamunur Rashid Mamun of Tangail-5 and Kamrul Hasan Khan of Tangail-3 yesterday made the allegations at separate press conferences in Tangail Press Club yesterday.
However, neither independent lawmaker-elects of Tangail-5 Sanowar Hussain and Tangail-3 Amanur Rahman Khan Rana could be contacted over phone for comments.
In Barishal, at least 72 people, wounded in post-polls violence, were undergoing treatment at Barishal Sher-e Bangla Medical College Hospital, said Saiful Islam, director of the hospital.
[Our correspondents from respective districts contributed to this report.]
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