UP Poll violence
Another dies in Chandpur
A man who was injured in the violence during the fourth phase of union parishad polls on Saturday died at Comilla Medical College Hospital yesterday, taking the death toll to five. The victim was identified as Jamal Hossain, 28, son of Shahid Ullah from Nizmehar village of Shahrasthi upazila in Chandpur district. Hossain was seriously injured when the supporters of an Awami League candidate and a rebel candidate clashed at the Nahara Government Primary School election centre in Rayasir south union, police sources said. Jamal was initially admitted to the Shahrasthi Upazila Health Complex but later shifted to Comilla Medical College Hospital when his situation deteriorated. He died at Comilla Medical College Hospital today, said the officer-in-charge (OC) of Shahrasthi Police Station, Dildar Hossain Azad. At Narsingdi, at least 20 people, including three women, were injured in a clash between two rival groups in Birgaon village under Nilokhya union of Raipura upazila yesterday.
Police and medical sources said that armed with lethal weapons, several hundred supporters, led by Awami League winning chairman Tajul Islam, allegedly attacked the houses of rival and defeated candidate Abdul Haque Sarker and his supporters. They set five houses on fire, looted cash, gold and other valuables worth about Tk. 50 lakh and assaulted 20 people, including three women, Sarker alleged. Raipura police later sent the injured to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. Five persons were shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after their condition worsened. Those critically injured were identified as Anwar Hossain, 36, Mostafa Mia, 34, Saral Mia, 35, Hazrat Ali, and Badal Mia, 28.
Idris Ali, brother of Ali Hossain, who died in poll violence at the Madhyanagar Government Primary School centre on Saturday, filed a murder case against 26 people, including defeated AL chairman candidate Masudur Rahman.
In Narail, at least 20 people were injured in the post-poll violence that broke out at Tarapur village in Sadar upazila yesterday. Police said supporters of victorious AL chairman candidate Saiful Islam clashed with those of the defeated AL rebel candidate, leaving at least 20 people injured. The injured were admitted to Narail and Khulna Medical College Hospital. Subhas Biswas, OC of Narail Police Station, said a force has been deployed in the area. In Chapainawabganj, at least 15 people were injured in a clash between the supporters of two UP member candidates at Monakasha union under Shibganj upazila yesterday. The seriously injured Milon Hossain, 26, Abdul Quayum, 37, Shahidul, 25, Fayej Uddin, 50 were admitted to Rajshahi Medical Collage Hospital. Local sources said supporters of winning UP member candidate of Ward No. 4 Shukur Ali brought out a procession in the area at around 11 am and at one stage they attacked the house of the defeated candidate Nurul Hoque at Raninagar. Later, supporters of two groups locked in a clash with sticks, brick bats and crude bombs. Being informed, Shibganj police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. In the fourth phase of the UP polls, at least four persons were killed in violence at Narsingdi, Thakurgaon and Comilla. At least 75 people have been killed so far in poll-related violence The number of casualties in the UP polls this year has already crossed that in the last UP polls in 2011. There are two more phases to go. The fifth phase will be held on May 28 and the final phase on June 4.
