COMILLA, Mar 6: A group of people allegedly hacked a youth for chanting 'Joy Bangla' slogan and supporting Awami League (AL)-backed candidate in the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) election in Debidwar upazila of Comilla last evening.
The attackers belonged to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), sources here said.
Rabbi Bhuiyan (22) son of Kamal Bhuiyan was returning home after attending an election campaign of AL-backed chairman candidate Mohammad Kamrul Hasan of Rasulpur Union-3. Meanwhile, a gang of 30 BNP men led by Karim Bhuiyan(48) Rafique Bhuiyan (55), Younus and Babul Bhuiyan (45), all supporters of Md Sirajul Islam, rival chairman candidate backed by BNP,  swooped on him with sharp weapons at the courtyard of his house, leaving him severely injured. As he and his mother raised a hue and cry, locals rushed to the spot and the attackers left the scene.
"All of them are my neighbours.  Supporting AL- backed candidate in this upcoming UP election and chanting Joy Bangla slogan were my faults" claimed victim Rabbi.
Local sources, however, said they could identify many of the attackers who used to participate in BNP-Jamaat rallies.
"They also threatened to set afire our residence if Rabbi supports AL-backed candidate," said Rabbi's father Kamal Bhuiyan.
Later that night, he received several threats on his life over phone.