At least five people were killed and several others shot injured when Border Guards Bangladesh members opened fire to stop ballot snatching after voting in Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur this evening.

A group of people swooped on the BGB men when they were carrying the ballot boxes from the Safa Degree College polling centre at Dhonisafa union, Superintendent of Police Walid Hossain told The Daily Star over phone. Later, the BGB men opened fire in retaliation upon directives from Executive Magistrate Kazi Ziaul Based.

Five critically injured people were admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Walid added.

Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mostafa Kamal of Mothbaria circle told The Daily Star over phone that election officials discarded several votes for Awami League-backed candidate. Later, AL supporters confined the election officials inside the centre and barred them from delivering the ballot boxes and other equipments to upazila headquarters, creating a large gathering in front of the centre.

As the situation deteriorated, the BGB men following orders from Magistrate Based opened fire to disperse the AL supporters, leaving the three dead on the spot, the police official added.