Pabna, Sept 03 (V7N) — Two people have died after allegedly being assaulted in separate incidents in Pabna, with one death reported in Ishwardi and the other in Chatmohar.

In Ishwardi, an 18-year-old youth, Mehdi Hasan Akib, allegedly died after being beaten by unidentified assailants.

Akib, son of Md Anisur Rahman of Mazdia Islampada village under Sara Union in Ishwardi upazila, died on Wednesday morning while being taken from Ishwardi to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

According to his family, Akib left home on Tuesday evening but did not return. Early Wednesday morning, unidentified people took him to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex in an injured condition in an autorickshaw and left him there.

After receiving the news, his father rushed to the hospital. Following initial treatment, doctors advised that Akib be transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for further treatment.

He was being taken to Rajshahi by ambulance when he died after reaching the Lalpur area.

Akib’s father alleged that his son had been assaulted, saying there were injury marks on his body. However, the family has not yet been able to determine who attacked him or the reason behind the assault.

He called for a proper investigation into the incident and punishment for those responsible.

Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Asadur Rahman said there were no signs of injuries caused by a weapon on Akib’s body. However, police had learned that there were signs indicating that he had been beaten.

“He may have died as a result of the assault. The exact cause of death is being investigated,” the OC said.

Police were preparing to send the body to the Pabna General Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, local sources said Akib was a supporter of Mehdi Hasan, former member secretary of the Ishwardi upazila unit of Jatiyatabadi Swechhasebak Dal. Akib reportedly operated a shallow-engine-powered boat.

Sources said a longstanding dispute over control of sand-mining areas and local dominance had existed between Mehdi Hasan and the Kakon group around the Sara and Islampada ghats, with occasional reports of gunfire.

Preliminary information suggested that members of the Kakon group may have assaulted Akib and seriously injured him before leaving him at the hospital. However, the allegation has not yet been independently confirmed by police.

In a separate incident in Chatmohar upazila, day labourer Abdul Barek, also known as Baki, died while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital after allegedly being assaulted over a minor dispute.

Barek, son of Sobahan Ali of Sajnai village in Chatmohar, died at the hospital on Wednesday morning.

The incident took place on Saturday morning, August 29.

According to local sources, Barek had taken his male goat to a pond near his home to wash it when his neighbour, Robiul Islam Rabi, son of Jaher Molla of the same village, allegedly objected.

An argument subsequently broke out between the two. At one point, Robiul Islam allegedly struck Barek on the head with a bamboo stick, leaving him injured.

Barek was taken to Chatmohar Upazila Health Complex, where he received initial treatment before doctors referred him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

He died there on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment.

After his body was brought back to the village, tension reportedly arose between supporters of the two sides. Police went to the scene and brought the situation under control.

Chatmohar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Oliur Rahman confirmed the death and said preparations were underway to file a case over the incident.

Police are investigating both incidents to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine whether those accused were responsible for the assaults.

END/MSR/SMA/