Panic has gripped the voters, mainly the male persons, in Gafargaon municipality after the murder of mother of a ward 3 councillor candidate on Wednesday and the subsequent arrest of several accused in the case.
Locals said most of the male persons in the area have left their houses to evade arrest. Even the women are not coming out of the houses, they said.
The people are scared to stay at home, especially after the sunset, as the plaintiff made accused some 30-35 unnamed persons in the case alongside 19 named.
The deceased is Rabeya Khatun, 55, mother of councillor candidate Azizul Islam, also the general secretary of the ward unit Awami League.
Police said a group of armed cadres led by ward 3 councillor candidate and also the ward unit Awami League President Anisur Rahman attacked the house of Azizul on Wednesday night. Rabeya was beaten to death while Azizul and his two brothers were also injured in the attack.
Police have arrested Anisur, and his two nephews – Iqbal and Sohag – in the murder case filed by Azizul on Thursday. Anisur, however, denied his involvement in the incident.
Locals criticised the police for their inaction during the fierce clash.
Gafargaon police station OC (investigation) Habibur Rahman said that they would not detain any innocent person. Only the accused would be held.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shiddhartha Shangkar Kundu, also the election returning officer, said that the law enforcers must take some legal measures following a murder incident.