3 brothers mowed down in Hathazari

An armed gang shot three brothers dead at Charia Kazipara area of Mirzapur union under Hathazari upazila in the district yesterday.

Five others were injured in the shootout and two persons were arrested, police said.

The dead were identified as Abul Kashem, 50, Abul Bashar, 40, and Badsha Alam, 30. They were all sons of Abdul Khaleque.

The injured are Taher, 30, Junu Meah, 45, Aiyub, 25, Jamal, 32, and Nuruzzaman, 30. They are undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), sources said.

According to witnesses, a gang 10 suddenly stormed into the area, got hold of Kashem and shot him. Hearing gunshots the two younger brothers Bashar and Badsha came out from their shop to be spayed with bullets as well.

The miscreants also chopped the victims, witnesses added.

Bashar and Basdsha died on the spot while Kashem died on the way to the CMCH.

Five of those who had gone to help the brothers were hit by bullets.

The incident may have been a sequel to the long-standing enmity between Abdul Khaleque and former chairman of Mirzapur union Abul Kalam regarding land dispute.

The three brothers had reportedly helped police arrest an alleged criminal Alamgir, son of Kalam, on April 5 this year, sources said.

Hathazari police has arrested one Abul Hossain Bhola and his son Sekandar in this connection.

In yet another incident, a young man was gunned down at Dutkumar village of Anwara upazilla in the district on Sunday night.

The victim has been identified as Mohammad Kalu.

According to police, an armed gang of some 15 persons led allegedly by one Habibur Rahman attacked Kalu's residence at around 1:30am. They shot Kalu from point blank range and left the spot.

The victim was rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) were the doctors declared him dead.

Land dispute might have been the cause behind the incident, police believe.

A case was filed with the Anwara Police Station. So far no one has been arrested.