Two Killed in Shooting Over Hat Lease Dispute at Pushpopara in Pabna

Two people, including the leaseholder of a hat, were shot dead by rivals in Pabna in a dispute over the lease of the market. The incident took place at around 7pm on Thursday at Pushpopara Bazar under Ataikula police station in Sadar upazila.

The dead are Pushpopara hat leaseholder Abdus Salam Haji, 55, and his associate Ripon Hossain, 50. Both were from Dharmagram under Ataikula police station. Pabna Superintendent of Police Abu Ashraf confirmed the incident.

Police and local sources said a dispute had been going on between two sides over the lease of Pushpopara hat. The current leaseholder, Abdus Salam Haji, was sitting with his associates in their office room at the hat.

At that time, several masked men from the rival side opened fire on them and fled, according to police and local sources.

Local people rescued them and rushed them to Pabna General Hospital, where the doctor on duty declared Salam Haji and his associate Ripon dead.

Superintendent of Police Abu Ashraf said preliminary information showed a dispute between two sides over the hat lease, and that the rivals fired on them because of it. He said two people died of gunshot wounds and police had reached the scene after receiving the news.

The superintendent added that police are investigating further, will identify those involved in the killings, and will be able to give details later.