Teen Auto-Rickshaw Driver Killed During Robbery

A tragic incident in Feni has claimed the life of a 16-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, Shanto Kumar Saha, who was fatally run over after a confrontation with suspected robbers attempting to seize his vehicle. The fatal event occurred on Sunday, 8 March, at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time on the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in the Lalpol area.

Shanto, a resident of Hakdi village in Bali Gaon Union of Feni Sadar Upazila, was the son of Kanu Kumar Saha. According to relatives and eyewitnesses, Shanto had been waiting with his auto-rickshaw near the Miazi Filling Station in Lalpol, shortly before iftar, attending to a passenger’s belongings.

Sequence of Events

Eyewitness accounts indicate that roughly half an hour later, unidentified assailants attempted to rob Shanto. He was physically assaulted and pushed under a culvert beside the highway. After emerging, Shanto reportedly chased the attackers, who shoved him onto the road, where a moving vehicle struck him, causing immediate death at the scene.

Family members described the harrowing moments leading to the tragedy. Shanto’s cousin, Bipul Das, stated that the family began searching for him after being unable to reach him by phone. They later learned of the incident from a fellow auto-rickshaw driver and found Shanto’s body at the site. Das added that CCTV footage from the vicinity of Miazi Filling Station could assist authorities in identifying the perpetrators.

Shanto’s cousin, Nipa Rani Das, recounted seeing him near the filling station with several passenger bags. She observed a man standing nearby and suspects the robbers took advantage of the relatively quiet moment before iftar to target Shanto and seize his vehicle.

Feni’s Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle), Nishat Tabassum, confirmed that law enforcement recovered the body and sent it to Feni General Hospital morgue. She stated that the auto-rickshaw robbery and resulting death are being investigated as a priority, with detailed findings to be released upon completion of inquiries.

Authorities have emphasised the seriousness of the case and pledged rigorous investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Local residents have expressed shock and grief over the fatal attack, highlighting ongoing concerns about public safety on major highways.