A farmer from Bakerganj upazila in Barisal district was brutally beaten and fatally injured while attempting to stop the theft of watermelons from his field.
Quddus Hawlader, 45, son of Abdur Razzak Hawlader, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal on Friday, confirmed SI Enamul Haque Shahid, in charge of the Charamaddi police outpost under Bakerganj police station.
The attack took place on Thursday at around 2:30pm in the Diyarchar area of Ranirhat in Bakerganj upazila, SI Enamul said.
According to retired senior warrant officer Mojibur Rahman, a cousin of the victim, Quddus had cultivated watermelons on a plot of land next to his house.
"A group of local hooligans not only stole watermelons from his field but also demanded extortion. When Quddus protested, around 10-15 individuals, including Miraj, Anwar, Hasnain, Sarwar Sunny, Matiur Rahman, and Faisal, assaulted him," said Mojibur.
SI Enamul said that Quddus had leased the land for watermelon cultivation. "However, a group from the neighboring Charadi area had been stealing from his field, initially at night and later even during the day," he added.
He continued: "On Thursday afternoon, when Quddus tried to stop them, the assailants beat him severely with a stick from a raintree near the field, leaving him critically injured. Locals rescued him and brought him to the Charamaddi police outpost.
"As his condition worsened, the police sent him to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital, where he later died at around 3:30am on Friday."
"One person has been taken into custody for questioning, but no formal complaint has been filed yet. We are actively conducting operations to apprehend the perpetrators," said the SI.
Ward Master Abul Kalam of the hospital confirmed that the body has been sent for an autopsy.
Meanwhile, Quddus’ daughter, Sadia, has demanded justice for her father’s murder.
