At least 20 others are injured in clash between supporters of two candidates
Md Hedait Hossain, Khulna: A clash between supporters of two Union Parishad (UP) election candidates in Meherpur left two brothers dead on Monday.
With the latest development, at least 16 to 18 people have been killed in pre-polls violence in the last one month as the second and third phase of UP election is scheduled to take place on November 11 and 28 respectively, according to media reports.
On Monday, at least 20 other people were injured in the clash that was reported from a village in Kathuli union at the district’s Gangni upazila, said Gangni police OC Bazlur Rahman.
Six people have been sent to the state-owned hospital in Kushtia district town in critical conditions.
The victims have been identified as Zaharul Islam and Shahazul Islam, said the police officer.
The clash broke out between supporters of Atiar Rahman and Azmain Hossain Tutul, who are contesting the upcoming election as member candidates, around 9:30am, according to OC Rahman.
“Two people were found dead on the spot. Additional forces have been deployed in the area following the clashes,” he said.
Tutul, the incumbent UP member, claimed that he along with his supporters were attacked while campaigning at the Laxminarayanpur Dhalagram village.
According to him, a group of men led by Atiar Rahman launched an attack on them with sharp weapons. They hacked the brothers to death.
“Atiar and his accomplices murdered my brother Enamul Hossain Nailu a few years ago,” he claimed.
No comments were available from Atiar.
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