Elderly man killed by family members

Property-greedy family members beat dead an elderly man in Bhangura upazila of the district on Friday.

The victim is Md Torab Sardar, 70, son of late Fayez Sardar of Boalmari village of Mondotosh union in Bhangura upazila.

Police arrested Torab's son Saddam Hossain, 24, and daughter Sabina Khatun, 20, on charge of the murder while two other accused -- Torab's wife Sohagi Begum and son-in-law Monirul Islam managed to escape.

"Torab's wife and their son and daughter often created pressure on him to hand over 10 bighas of inherited land so that they can sell it. But he did not want to part with the paternal land before his death," said Md Amir Hossain, nephew of the victim.

On Friday afternoon, Torab's wife Sohagi, son Saddam, daughter Sabina and son-in-law Monirul beat him mercilessly as he again refused to hand over the property, said Amir, who filed a murder case accusing the four yesterday.

In a critical condition, locals took Torab to Bhangura Upazila Health Complex where doctors referred him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

The victim died on the way to Rajshahi around 8:00pm on Friday, said Md Abdur Rouf, officer in charge of Bhangura Police Station.

Police arrested Saddam and Sabina and trying to nab Monirul and Sohagi who went into hiding, he said.

The brutal killing of the elderly man by his family members sparked agitation among the villagers.