Three supporters of a councillor candidate were arrested in Sylhet early Saturday on charge of a showdown with firearms in front of the residence of a rival candidate and threatening to kill him.
The arrested are Atiqur Rahman, 42, of Bankalapara, Juber Ahmad, 38, and Nuruzzaman, 34, of Hajipara in Subidbazar area in the city, police said.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police additional deputy commissioner Sudip Das confirmed.
He said that Ward 7 councillor candidate Sayeed Md Abdullah filed a case at about 12:30am on Saturday in this regard with the Biman Bandar police station.
He also said that the plaintiff accused rival candidate Aftab Hossain Khan, also an incumbent councillor and president of the city unit of the Swechchhasebak League, the volunteer wing of the ruling Awami League, and some 25 of his (Aftab) supporters.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, Abdullah submitted a written complaint with Sylhet City Corporation elections returning officer Faysal Quader on the same grounds and the returning officer requested the police to take necessary action after conducting an investigation into the allegation, the police officer said.
The councillor aspirant Abdullah complained that some 25 armed people on 10 to 12 motorcycles led by Aftab Hossain Khan came in front of the gate of his residence at about 6:00am on Tuesday (May 6).
At that time, the armed people pointed guns at his residence and threatened to kill him (Abdullah) and his family members.
Besides, they also threatened to set his home on fire, he alleged.
Aftab was not available for comment despite repeated efforts over cell phone in the afternoon.
The SMP officer Sudip said in the afternoon that preparation to produce the arrested before a Sylhet metropolitan magistrate court was underway.
