Unidentified attackers gouged a local Juba League leader’s eye in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila on Monday night.

The victim, identified as Kamal Hossain, is the president of Awami League’s youth wing Juba League’s ward 3 unit under Bashikpur union and a fruit seller at the local Poddar Bazar.

Police and local people said that Kamal came under attack on his way to Poddar Bazar from his house at about 8:30pm.

The attackers obstructed his way, attacked him with rods and gouged his right eye when he reached Nandigram, leaving him critically injured, they said.

Hearing his screams, local people rescued him and took him initially to Sadar Hospital. He was later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as he was in a critical condition.

Anowar Hossain, resident medical officer of Sadar hospital, said that there were marks of injuries in several parts of his body, including head, face, nose and eyes.

Due to his critical condition, he was referred to DMCH, he said.

Chandraganj police station officer-in-charge Md Enamul Hoque said that there had long been a dispute between the victim and a fertiliser trader of the Poddar Bazar. This dispute might have led to the attack.

Drives were on to arrest the accused involved in the incident, the police officer said.