A grocer and his younger brother were killed by rivals over a feud on a piece of mosque land at Nayapara village in Char Sirta union of Mymensingh sadar upazila on Friday and early today.

The victims were identified as Rafiqul Islam, 35, and his brother Shafiqul Islam, 30, sons of Akbor Ali of Nayapara village.

There had been a longstanding feud between the two local groups allegedly led by Hobi Bepari and Abdul Mazid of the same locality over possession of mosque land, said Md Faruq Hossain, the officer-in-charge (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station, quoting the locals.

Over the feud, a group allegedly belonging to Hobi Bepari locked in an altercation with Rafiqul at his grocery shop at a local bazaar on Friday.

At one stage, they attacked Rafiqul with sharp weapons. When Rafiqul's father Akbor and his brother Shafiqul rushed to the spot, the rivals also attacked them, injuring the two critically. Akbor was given first aid.

They were rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), where Rafiqul died in the afternoon.

Shafiqul was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated and he died at the hospital yesterday, the OC said.

On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to morgues for autopsy.

The feud has been going on for years and there were several local arbitrations over the issue but could not be minimised, said  Md Abu Sayed,  chairman of Char Sirta union parishad.

Police detained two Rubel Mia, 25, and Momtaz Uddin, 40, for their alleged involvement in the killings, according to the OC. No case has been lodged yet.

In another incident in Netrakona's Kalmakanda upazila, a mason was beaten to death over land on Friday.

The victim was identified as Asad Mia, 30, son of Md Abdullah of Ulukanda Bogatia village in Kalmakanda.

Abdullah had a longstanding dispute over a piece of land with Kamal Mia of the adjacent Gangdharkanda area, said Md Habibullah Khan, the OC of Kalmakanda Police Station, quoting locals.

There was a local arbitration over the issue at Ulukanda on Friday morning. At one point, both the groups locked in a heated altercation and Kamal and his men allegedly started beating Asad with sticks and injured him critically.

He was taken to Kalmakanda Upazila Health Complex from where he was referred to MMCH. He died at the hospital on Friday night.

Police recovered the body and sent it to MMCH morgue for autopsy. Police detained one Maznu Mia, 50, for his alleged involvement in the killing.