2 'cow lifters' beaten dead

Villagers beat dead two suspected cow lifters at Matherpur village in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur in the early hours yesterday.

Police identified one of the slain as Md Raju Mia, 28, son of Belal Hossain of Sonatola upazila of Bogra, while the other is yet to be identified.

Another alleged cow lifter, Md Nazmul Islam of Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat, who was critically injured in the mob beating, is undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

A gang of five cow lifters with a pick-up entered the house of Helal Uddin of Matherpur village in the upazila early yesterday, police quoted locals as saying.

Sensing their presence, the family members started crying for help. Villagers rushed in, caught three of the gang and gave them a good beating. Two of them died and the other was critically injured.