One person was killed during a clash between supporters of an Awami League candidate and a rebel (independent) candidate in Tangail’s Gopalpur municipal election.
The deceased was identified as Khalil, 35, of Dubail Atapara village under Khalil upazila. At least five people from both sides were injured in the incident.
During the clash, a car and the house and shop of the rebel candidate were vandalized. The deceased was a supporter of rebel candidate Engineer Khandaker Gias Uddin.
The incident took place in Bhuarchak area of the upazila around 8pm on Monday. Additional police personnel have been deployed at the scene.
Two cases have been filed in the incident and eight people have been arrested.
According to locals, a district Awami League team reached Gopalpur in the evening during the election campaign of Awami League nominated candidate Rakibul Haque Chana.
They were at the upazila Awami League office near the police station when rebel candidate Engineer Gias Uddin, former president of upazila Awami League, and his supporters came to the area. The supporters of the Awami League candidate attacked them.
In response, supporters of Gias Uddin vandalized an election office of Awami League in the area. Later, supporters of Awami League attacked Gias Uddin’s house. They also vandalized Gias Uddin’s brother's shop.
Tensions flared after news of the attack reached Gias Uddin’s native village of Dubail. His supporters marched towards the sadar upazila. On the way, Awami League supporters attacked them in Someshpur area.
At that time a man named Khalil was hit on the head and seriously injured. He was later rescued by the locals and taken to the Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.
Alraji, a resident doctor at Gopalpur Upazila Health Complex, said Khalil died before reaching the hospital.
In this regard, Gopalpur police station OC Mosharraf Hossain said that one person was killed in a clash between supporters of Awami League candidate and Awami League rebel candidate. Additional police have been deployed in the area. Legal action will be taken later.
According to the police, Nasim Uddin, the father of the deceased, filed a case on Monday night. Besides, Rafiqul Islam Hira has filed another case naming eight people and 8-10 other unidentified in the incident of vandalizing the Awami League office.
Police arrested eight supporters of the rebel candidate in connection with the vandalism.
Gopalpur police station OC (Investigation) Kaiyum Khan Siddiqui said the police are on high alert. An operation is underway to arrest the other accused.
The voting for the Gopalpur municipality election is scheduled to be held on February 14. Former general secretary of upazila Awami League Rakibul Haque Chana has been nominated by Awami League in the election and former upazila Awami League president Khandaker Gias Uddin has become a rebel candidate. Besides, BNP candidate Khandaker Jahangir Alam Rubel and independent candidate Shahjahan are also contesting in the election.
