Schoolteacher Monoranjan Roy beaten to death in Parbatipur while trying to settle a friend's family dispute, one detained

A schoolteacher named Monoranjan Roy, 55, has been beaten to death in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur while trying to settle a dispute at a friend's house. The incident took place on Sunday at around 2:30 pm in Naya Mollapara village of Belaichandi union in the upazila. Police have detained a man named Asaduzzaman, 32, in connection with the incident.

The deceased Monoranjan Roy was an assistant teacher at Chak Sukdebpur Government Primary School in Chirirbandar upazila. He was a resident of Sonapukur Majhipara village in Isabpur union of Chirirbandar upazila.

According to police and local sources, carpenter Fortaz Hossain, 53, was doing construction work at the house of the late Azizul Master in Naya Mollapara village. He had been in dispute for several days with Azizul's son Al Roman, 25, over wages. Al Roman's family also had a dispute with neighbour Asaduzzaman over land for a road beside the house.

On Sunday noon, carpenter Fortaz Hossain, Asaduzzaman and several others went to Al Roman's house. There they argued with Azizul Master's wife. Teacher Monoranjan Roy tried to settle the dispute between the two sides. At that point the men who had come to the house attacked him. He was beaten with a drumstick-tree branch and sticks. Injured in various parts of his body, he fell into a nearby paddy field. He later died.

After the incident, a call was made to the national emergency service 999 reporting that a teacher had been beaten. On receiving the news, police went to the scene and recovered his body.

Al Roman works at a private organisation. He said his father died about 13 years ago. Monoranjan Roy was his father's friend. After his father's death, Monoranjan Roy looked after the two siblings in matters including their studies. Carpenter Fortaz, on the other hand, addressed his mother as a god-daughter and also kept in touch with their family.

Al Roman alleged that a few days ago several eucalyptus trees at their house were cut. Without his permission, Fortaz took the trees to a sawmill and had them sawn. Later, when the wood was accounted for, he found it was less in quantity. He had informed Monoranjan Roy about the matter.

Meanwhile, Al Roman started fence construction work at the house. Fortaz initially started the work and was paid. But Al Roman alleged that Fortaz kept the money himself instead of paying the other workers. Later Fortaz demanded 800 taka in wages per worker. Al Roman objected. At one stage he removed Fortaz from the work and started getting it done by other workers. According to Al Roman, angered by this, Fortaz went to their house on Sunday alleging unpaid wages and launched the attack.

Dinajpur Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Anwar Hossain said that, according to information from local people, the teacher had gone there from Chirirbandar to settle the family dispute of his late friend. After a clash between the two sides he fell ill and died. The actual cause of death is being examined. The police official also said a man named Asaduzzaman has been detained in the incident and drives are under way to arrest the others.