Local people and battery-run auto-rickshaw drivers staged a demonstration in front of Habiganj Sadar Police Station for an hour yesterday, demanding exemplary punishment of the killers of driver Sabaz Mia.

They later withdrew the protest programme around 1:00pm following an assurance by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rabiul Islam of taking steps to bring the killers to book.

Three people were detained in this connection, said the ASP, adding that police also seized a knife used in the killing and a mobile set, a motorcycle and an auto-rickshaw from their possession.

A case was filed in connection with the incident, he said.

Miscreants killed Sabaz, 25, and hijacked his auto-rickshaw in Dhuliakhal area of  Sadar upazila around 12:30am. They also looted valuables from the victim.

Sabaz was the son of Matab Ali of Anwarpur village in the upazila, said the police official.

Quoting locals, Matab said a gang boarded the auto-rickshaw, posing as passengers at Anwarpur point and when it reached Dhuliakhal area, the hijackers killed Sabaz and took away the auto-rickshaw.

On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body and sent it to Habiganj Sadar Hospital for autopsy, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Sahidur Rahman of Habiganj Model Police Station.

The detainees were being interrogated as of filing of this report around 5:00pm yesterday.