Auto-rickshaw driver dies in fare dispute
Noakhali Correspondent
A battery-run auto-rickshaw driver named Saiful Islam Kiran (27) allegedly died after being assaulted by a passenger following a dispute over fare at Chatkhil
Police have detained the accused Md. Mizan Hossain for questioning. However, police say the exact cause of death will be known after receiving the autopsy report.
On Tuesday (June 17) morning, the body was sent to the morgue of the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital for post-mortem examination. Earlier, the incident took place on Monday around 6:30 PM at Sompara Bazar in Sahapur Union of the upazila.
The deceased Kiran was the son of the late Md. Hanif from Doi Bari in Prosadpur village of the same union. On the other hand, the detained Mizan is the son of the late Nazir Ahmad from Abdul Hashem Munshi Bari in Mominpur village of the same union.
According to police, Mizan is a Thai aluminum trader in Sompara Bazar of the upazila. The victim, auto-rickshaw driver Kiran, was previously acquainted with him. On Monday afternoon, an argument broke out between them over the fare for taking Mizan's wife and children home from Sompara Bazar. At one stage, the argument escalated into a scuffle and physical altercation. Later, the auto-rickshaw driver Kiran left without taking Mizan's fare and drove to Alipur of the upazila with other passengers. There, around 7:00 PM, Kiran vomited and fell ill. Locals immediately rescued him, but he died on the way to the upazila health complex.
Police further stated that after hearing of Kiran's death, his relatives attacked Mizan’s shop and attempted to assault him. Upon receiving the information, police, with the assistance of the army, rescued Mizan and took him to the police station. A report on the condition of the body was prepared at the scene, which did not show any visible injury marks on the body.
Chatkhil Police Station OC Firoz Uddin Chowdhury said the body was recovered and sent to Noakhali General Hospital morgue for autopsy in the morning. Legal action will be taken based on the investigation of the allegations made by the deceased's family. The exact cause of death will be known after receiving the autopsy report.
