Autorickshaw driver killed, auto-rickshaw hijacked in Noakhali

❐ District Correspondent 

A battery-powered auto-rickshaw was hijacked and a driver was killed in Companiganj, Noakhali.

The body was recovered from the garden next to the house of Nur Islam Miah of Ward No. 5 of Charjabbar Union in neighboring Subarnachar around 11 am yesterday.

The deceased auto driver has been identified as Md. Rafiqul Islam (55). He is the son of Akkel Ali of Fazal Haque Mia’s house in Ward No. 3 of Sirajpur Union.

The deceased’s daughter, Mousumi Begum, said that Rafiqul Islam bought a battery-powered autorickshaw on credit two months ago. He left home on Monday after having lunch. When he did not return home at night, family members called his mobile phone several times and found it switched off.

The next day, around 11 am, locals found his body lying near Nur Islam Miah’s house in Subarnachar Upazila. In addition to the rope marks around his neck, there were injury marks on various parts of his body.

It is believed that the miscreants strangled him to death, dumped his body in the garden and fled with his auto-rickshaw and mobile phone. In the morning, locals found the body lying there and informed the police.

Char Jabbar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Shahin Mia said, “Initially, it seems to be a murder. However, the exact cause of death is not known.”

He said that the body has circular sore marks from a rope being tied around its neck, a bruised finger on its left hand, and a swollen wound on its back. It also appears that something was inserted into its mouth and its nose and mouth were squeezed. It is being checked to see if there is any other substance inside its mouth.

The OC also said that the body has been sent to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital for autopsy.

The relatives of the deceased have been informed. Police said legal action will be taken later when they arrive.