Ballot boxes snatched in Satkania

Ballot boxes of the Upazila election were carried away during a clash between two rival groups at a polling centre in Chittagong’s Satkania.

Chittagong Bureaubdnews24.com
Published : 23 March 2014, 10:04 AM
Updated : 23 March 2014, 10:04 AM

Polling was stopped after the scuffle at the Choto Hatia Hazi Laxmi Bibir Madrasa of Sonakia Union at 10am Sunday.

The miscreants decamped with five of the six ballot boxes, Presiding Officer Belal Mohammad Chowdhury told bdnews24.com.

There was no voting after that, he said.

“There are three policemen and 12 Ansars here,” said Jyotirmoy Chakma, a policeman on duty at the centre. “One group of supporters open fired when another group entered the centre.”

“We also fired some rounds. Additional police are here after the incident,” said Chakma.

Upazila Executive Officer Shariful Islam said he had heard of the matter but was awaiting reports.

Witnesses said the clash began when supporters of Awami League-backed chairman candidate Nurul Absar Chowdhury tried to forcibly enter the centre but was stopped by the supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Jashim Uddin.

The two sides exchanged fire and police fired, too, to restore order, they said.

Meanwhile, polling was peaceful at Chittagong’s Rauzan, Rangunia, Boalkhali, Anwara and Banshkhali with no reports of violence or irregularities.