Man Shot Dead in Padma River Shoal Conflict

A armed clash between two rival factions has erupted over territorial dominance in the Padma River shoals (chars), situated at the intersection of Lalpur in Natore, Bagha in Rajshahi, and Bheramara in Kushtia. The gunfire resulted in the death of a 35-year-old man, identified as Azizul Haque. His bullet-ridden body was recovered on Tuesday afternoon at approximately 3:30 pm from a speedboat drifting on the Padma River within the Char Jazira area, under the jurisdiction of Lalpur Police Station.

Recovery of the Deceased and Investigation

According to sources within the Lalpur Police Station, local residents spotted a blue-and-green speedboat equipped with a red canopy drifting aimlessly in the Padma River near Char Jazira on Tuesday afternoon. Upon closer inspection, the witnesses discovered the bullet-ridden body of a young man inside the vessel and immediately notified law enforcement.

Upon receiving the information, contingents from the Lalpur Police Station and the Laxmikunda River Police arrived at the scene around 3:30 pm to retrieve the body. Following the initial recovery, the police prepared an inquest report documenting the visible injuries. The body was subsequently transported to the Natore Sadar Hospital morgue for an official post-mortem examination to ascertain the precise cause of death.

Profile of the Deceased and Territorial Dispute

Law enforcement officials have established the identity of the deceased, alongside historical contextual details concerning the regional unrest. The verified parameters of the victim and the ongoing conflict are structured below:

Sequence of Events and Motive

Prior to the recovery of the body, law enforcement teams comprising the Lalpur Police, Bagha Police, and Laxmikunda River Police conducted a joint inspection of the shoal area where the three districts meet. Local residents informed the visiting police personnel that a heavy exchange of gunfire occurred at dawn on Tuesday. The clash broke out between the armed supporters of local leaders Belal and Kakon over the control of an illegal sand quarry (balumahal) in the shoal. Azizul Haque, acting as a member of the Kakon faction, sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the confrontation.

Jurisdictional Dispute and Legal Framework

The geographical positioning of the crime scene at the tri-junction of three separate sub-districts and districts has generated an administrative complication regarding police jurisdiction. Addressing this matter, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lalpur Police Station, Shafiqul Islam, noted that a debate exists concerning which specific police station should register the case, given the tri-district overlapping nature of the confrontation site.

However, he clarified the exact procedural path determined by the authorities. Since the physical body was ultimately retrieved from a vessel floating on the waters of the Padma River, the primary investigation will be handled by the Laxmikunda River Police. Concurrently, the formal criminal lawsuit (case) will be officially filed and registered under the jurisdiction of the Lalpur Police Station.