Farmer killed over land dispute

A farmer was killed over land dispute at Chechua Bazar area in Muktagachha upazila of the district yesterday.

The victim was identified as Akkel Ali, 70, son of late Yeasin Munshi of Ramakana in the upazila.

Quoting Akkel's family members and locals, sub-inspector Saidul Islam of Muktagachha Police Station, who visited the spot, said there had been a longstanding dispute between Akkel Ali and his nephew Rafiqul Islam Noori over 145-decimal of land at Chechua Bazar area.

Noori forcibly grabbed the land owned by Akkel some eight years ago.

Several local arbitrations were held to resolve the dispute but Noori allegedly did not respond. The matter is also pending with the court, said police.

Akkel and his men took position in the land on Saturday afternoon as Noori sold a portion of the land to one Abu Bakar Siddique of the area recently, said sources.

As Noori could not hand over the land to Abu Bakar due the presence of Akkel and his men, he along with his men attacked Akkel with sharp weapons around 2:30am, injuring him critically, police said quoting Siddiqur Rahman, another nephew of the victim who was at the spot during the incident.

Akkel was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries around 2:00pm yesterday.