A 10-month-old girl child has been killed and several others injured in a police shooting after a clash broke out centering the announcement of the result of a Union Parishad (UP) election at Ranisankail upazila of Thakurgaon.
The deceased is Asha, confirmed Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sohel Sultan Zulkar Nain.
The incident took place at Bhangbari polling centre under ward No 3 of Bachor UP of the upazila around 6pm on Wednesday.
The election to the UP ended at 4pm. As the officials concerned were returning to the upazila headquarters with the electronic voting machines, the supporters of the defeated candidate swooped on them. They also put barricade on the road leading to the upazila headquarters.
Meanwhile, another group of unruly followers of the same candidate attacked the policemen tasked with the election, who primarily lobbed tear-gas shells to disperse them. As the situation turned even worse, the police members retaliated with gunshots leading to the child's death.
Carrying her, Asha's mother went there for updates on the election results. At one stage, supporters of two member candidates locked into a clash.
The child died on the spot in the lap of her mother as police opened fire to bring the situation under control, Zulkar Nain said.
Later, agitated locals brought out a procession carrying the body.
Additional police forces have been deployed to maintain law and order, the UNO added.