As many as 15 people were injured, five of them with bullet wounds, when supporters of two rival candidates for the upcoming Hatkhali Union Parishad election allegedly clashed in Barbhagia village of Pabna Thursday night.

Police, however, claimed on Friday that it was actually a clash between two families in the village under Sujanagar upazila over an unapproved love affair.

Those who sustained bullet injuries have been identified as Azhar Ali Molla, 65, Azgar Ali Molla, 60, Khairul Islam, 40, Rehena Khatun, 35, and Jubayer Hossain. Four of them have been shifted to Pabna General Hospital from the upazila health complex.

Also read: Chattogram: Two killed in clash over boundary wall dispute

Firoz Ahmed Khan, the organisational secretary of the upazila Krishak League, an associate outfit of the Awami League, told UNB that the members of the ruling party had been attacking rival candidates for the UP election since October 26, the last day of withdrawing nominations.

Firoz is contesting the UP election for the chairman's post as an independent, while Abdur Rauf is the ruling party candidate.

"Around 8.30pm on Thursday, a gang of miscreants owing allegiance to Abdur, went on a vandalism spree in Barbhagia village, attacking residents and damaging houses as well as the election office in Nuruddin Bazar. Some of the miscreants fired at my supporters," Firoz claimed.

Also read: 1 killed, 4 injured in clash over a road accident in Sunamganj

Abdur, however, refuted the allegations, claiming it was a clash between the Bishwash and Molla community in the village over a love affair. "Firoz is trying to exploit the situation,” he said.

Officer-in-charge of Sujanagar police station Mizanur Rahman also said it was not a UP poll-related violence, "but rather a love affair related clash between two groups owing allegiance to Firoz".

“Currently the situation is under control. A heavy police force has been deployed in the village," he said. "We will initiate legal action, post-filing of a complaint."