Four people were shot dead and some 15 others injured, nine of them with bullet wounds, when supporters of two rival candidates for the upcoming Alokbali Union Parishad election allegedly clashed in a village on Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Amir Hossain (42), son of Kutu Mia, Ashraful (18), son of Abdul Karim and Khushu Begum, 32, daughter of Manu Mia and Khairul Islam, 30, son of Shahidullah. All residents of Alokbali village in Sadar upazila and supporters of Abul Khayer.
The nine with bullet wounds have been shifted to Dhaka for better treatment.
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Mohammad Saugatul Alam, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station, said that ruling Awami League candidate Abul Khayer and Ripon Mia, a rival candidate, had been at loggerheads for a long time.
Around 6am on Thursday, Ripon and his supporters, armed with guns and teta (a type of fishing spear) suddenly attacked the supporters of Abul, triggering a deadly clash in Alokbali village, the OC said.
Upon information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
While three people suffered bullet wounds and died on the spot, nine of the 15 injured were taken to Dhaka for better treatment. Abul is among the injured, the OC said.
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Of the injured, Khairul, who also suffered bullet wounds, died on way to Dhaka at noon.
"Efforts are on to nab the attackers," he added.
The Union Parishad polls are slated for November 28.