Rangpur: A man was killed reportedly in police firing during a clash between the supporters of two chairman candidates in Sadya Puskini union parishad election in Sadar upazila on Sunday.

Around 30 people were also injured, including six with bullets, in the incident.

The deceased was identified as Lokman Hossain, 55, a supporter of chairman candidate Abdul Matin and resident of Panchora village in the upazila.

Witnesses said the clash broke out following an altercation between the supporters of chairman candidates Sohel Rana and Abdul Matin around 7pm while votes were being counted at Panichora Khan Chowdhury Dakhil Madrasah centre.

Both the groups, equipped with homemade weapons, attacked each other, leaving 25 people injured.

Policemen deployed at the centre charged baton and fired 13-14 bullets to disperse the feuding groups, leaving six people, including Lokman, injured with bullets.

Lokman died on the way to Rangpur Medical College Hospital while the rest were admitted to the hospital.

Contacted, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station Abdul Kader Jilani told UNB that the clash erupted as the supporters of a chairman candidate snatched a ballot box during vote counting at the centre.

He said an executive magistrate and four policemen were injured in the clash.

Later, police fired several gunshots in the air to bring the situation under control. He, however, denied the death of Lokman in police firing.


UNB/RI