4 killed in Dinajpur polls violence

DINAJPUR: Four people, including an Ansar man, an adolescent and an activist of Jubo Dal, were killed in clashes between law enforcers and poll resisters in the upazila of the district on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Masud, 20, member of Jubo unit of Jatiya Gonotantrik Party, Chunnu, 30, a Jubo Dal activist, Salah Uddin, 15, and an Abdul Wahed, a member of Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP).

Sources said members of Border Guard Bangladesh opened fire while poll-protesters were snatching away polling equipments from Momomthpur government primary school vote centers at around 12:00 noon, leaving three injured.

The injured were rushed to local Lamb Hospital where Masud succumbed to his injuries at around 1:00pm.

Besides, an activist of Jubo Dal was killed in a clash between leaders-activists 18-party and Awami League near to Ghorakhai Government Primary School polling center.

Earlier in the morning, a member of Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP) was beaten to death by leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in a vote center under the upazila of the district.

Police constable Saidur Rahman said 18-party leader-activists attacked Uttar Shalanda Government Primary School at around 8:00am immediate after voting starts.

During the time, they beat an Ansar man indiscriminately, leaving dead on the spot and injured eight including assistant presiding officer Subal Chandra.

At one stage, polling officials including presiding officer left the center.

Upazila Ansar and VDP officer Abdur Razzak confirmed the matter to banglanews.

On the other hand, local Awami League and 18-party’s supporters locked into clash in Birganj upazila in the noon, leaving four people including Salah Uddin injured.

Later, Salah Uddin succumbed to his injuries at Dinajpur Medical College Hospital in the evening.