Brothers to walk gallows for killing man in Fatikchhari

A Chattogram court yesterday handed down death penalty to two brothers, on charges of killing an expatriate in Fatickchhari upazila in the district over a land dispute in 2011.

The convicted are Md Jahedul Alam alias "Loha Jahed" and Khorshedul Alam Kalam alias "Jongi Kalam", from Dhali Kata of Chattogram's Fatickchari upazila.

Chattogram Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Md Abul Halim delivered the verdict against the duo, after the court found them guilty beyond doubt examining all records and witnesses, said Public Prosecutor of the tribunal advocate Ayub Khan.

Both accused were tried in absentia, said the PP.

According to the case statement, the convicts had longstanding feud with Yunus, an expatriate to India, of the same area over a piece of land. Yunus and his cousin Hasan erected a fence on the land boundary, triggering an altercation on April 11, 2011. The two brothers called Yunus and Hasan to come to their house to settle the issue. When Yunus and Hasan entered their residence, Jahed and Kalam started hacking them with sharp weapons, locking the gate.

Hearing their cry for help, neighbours rescued the injured and informed police, who arrested the two after the incident. Yunus died on the way to hospital.

Yunus' wife Khotiza Akter filed a case accusing the duo, while police pressed the charge sheet against them June 5, 2011.

The complainant's lawyer advocate Tarun Kishor Deb said a total of 13 witnesses out of 20 testified in the case.