A 10-year-old boy was allegedly shot dead and three others killed in clash in separate incidents of polls violence in Keraniganj, Jamalpur and Jessore today.
Shubho Kazi, a fourth grader of Madhurchar Government Primary School at Keraniganj’s Hazratpur union and son of Halim Kazi, was allegedly shot by a ruling party supporter.
According to the victim’s father, Shubho went to Madhurchar Government Primary School polling centre with his uncle around 9:30am. A clash broke out in the polling centre.
Gun-toting Awami League activist Rana Molla entered the voting centre and opened fire. My son was shot on the chest,” he said. Shuvo was taken to a local hospital where he was declared dead.
Contacted, Ferdaous Hassain, officer-in-charge of Keraniganj Police Station, confirmed the firing incident. But he could confirm the identities of the gun attackers.
In Jamalpur, Rafiqul Islam, 50, died in clash between supporters of the two member candidates at Uttar Baluchar Government Primary School polling centre at about 11:15am, UNB reports quoting witnesses.
However, Officer-in-charge of Melandah Police Station Nasimul Islam said Rafiqul died of heart attack while waiting in a long queue for casting vote.
In Jessore, a hawker was killed in clashes between supporters of two rival candidates in Chanchra union under Sadar upazila, said Ilias Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jessore Kotwali Police Station. Identity of the victim could not be confirmed.
The victim was wounded when Awami League candidates clashed firing gunshots and blasting bombs near the polling centre around 12:30pm. Doctors of Jessore Medical College Hospital declared the man dead.
Fears were on that the second phase of the union parishad elections, that are being held under party banners for the first time, will be violent following the first phase elections.
In the first phase of union parishad polls held on March 22, at least 12 people died.