Swechchhasebak Dal activist killed at Bogura temple

A Swechchhasebak Dal activist was killed in front a temple in Sabgram Bazar in Bogura's Sadar upazila early yesterday.

The dead was identified as Subroto alias Somrat Das, 27.

The incident occurred around 1:00am in front a Durga temple, following an internal feud between two criminal groups, police sources said.

Humayan Kabir, officer-in-charge of the Sadar Police Station, said, "Somrat was crossing the temple area on a motorbike in the last night, when at least 5-6 men attacked him from behind with sticks and sharp weapons.

To survive, Somrat took shelter on the temple premises but the attackers dragged him out and hacked him with sharp weapons.

He died at the spot, the OC said.

However, he said Somrat was involved with the BNP and was a union Swechchhasebak Dal activist.

When contacted, Ali Ashraf Bhuiyan, superintendent of Bogura Police, said, "An internal feud between two criminal groups led to the murder. Somrat was a criminal in that area. There are four cases filed with police stations against him, including ones for murder, arms possession and rubbery. A few days ago he was released from jail on bail. His elder brother Jewel Chandra Das, 35, is also a known criminal in this area, with nine cases against him.

"I have visited the spot. We identified a group from the upazila Jubo Dal, working under a former convener,  as the murderers."

Contacted, Shuvashish Podder Liton, president of the district Jubo League, told The Daily Star that Somrat was the main accused in the murder of a Jubo League leader.

"We are conducting drives to detain those are involved in the murder. The dead body was sent to hospital for autopsy. No case has yet been filed in this regard," said the OC.