Man killed over trivial matter

An elderly man was beaten to death, four people were injured, and a house was torched during a clash between two groups of villagers in Kalai upazila of Joypurhat district yesterday. The deceased is Solaiman Ali, 75, of Gopinathpur village under the upazila. Kalai police, quoting witnesses, said Rafiqul Islam of Gopinathpur village dug a drain near his house and put the dug out earth near Solaiman's house. Solaiman told Rafiqul to put the earth on both sides of the drain. Hearing that, Mahfuzar Rahman, elder brother of Rafiqul Islam, allegedly hit Solaiman on the head with a stick. Locals immediately rescued Solaiman, but he died on way to hospital. Hearing the news of Solaiman's death, villagers torched the house of Mahfuzar Rahman. They also axed two litchi trees. Fire-fighters from Joypurhat doused the fire in two hours. Later, Mahfuzar's men and Solaiman's men engaged in a clash, which left four people of both groups injured.