Triple murder over land dispute

Three people were killed by their rival group during a clash over a piece of land at Taluk Haridas village in Aditmari upazila of the district yesterday.

Of the slain, one died on the spot while two others succumbed to their injuries in Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital and Rangpur Medical College Hospital, said Aditmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Masud Rana.

Two people were arrested in this connection while other accused managed to escape from their houses, he said.

Of the victims, Abdul Jalil, 55, son of late Jalal Miah, died on the spot while his cousins Golam Robbani, 46, son of Abdul Gafur and Shahidar Rahman, 40, son of Asir Uddin, succumbed to their injuries at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital and Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) respectively, Masud Rana said. All the victims are inhabitants of Taluk Haridas village in Aditmari upazila.

Police arrested Eresh Ali, 42, son of late Narul Islam, and Khabir Uddin, 48, son of late Abdus Sobahan of the same village, for their alleged involvement with the killings, he said, adding that drive continued to nab others.

The clash began in the morning as 15 to 20 people known as men of Abdul Khaleque Munshi, 58, of the same village attacked Jalil with sharp weapons when he went to plough the land he purchased, leaving him dead on the spot, the OC said.

Jalil's men rushed to the spot to rescue him as news of attack spread in the area and they also came under attack and were hacked by the Khaleque's men, the OC said.

Slain Jalil's son Jahangir Hossain said they purchased one bigha of land from one Seher Ali six months ago which was under illegal possession of Khaleque Munshi. He said the attack was planned by land grabber Khaleque Munshi and accordingly his men swooped on his father.

Jahangir filed a murder case with Aditmari Police Station accusing 20 named and 10 unnamed people in this regard yesterday, the OC said.