Hotel owner beaten to death while trying to protect employee in Gazipur; 3 detained
The deceased was identified as Liton Chandra Ghosh alias Kali, 55, owner of the hotel
A hotel owner was beaten to death while trying to protect a teenage employee during an altercation in Kaliganj of Gazipur yesterday (17 January). Police have detained three people, including a couple and their son, in connection with the incident.
The incident took place around 11am at Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel, located adjacent to the Kaliganj municipality area.
The deceased was identified as Liton Chandra Ghosh alias Kali, 55, owner of the hotel.
Confirming the incident, Gazipur Superintendent of Police Md Sharif Uddin said, "This is a tragic and isolated crime. There is no communal or minority-related angle to the incident. The law and order situation is normal, and police are on high alert to ensure the incident is not misrepresented. Whoever is responsible will face strict legal action."
Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Zakir Hossain said police recovered the body from the scene and are interrogating the three detainees.
"Injury marks were found on the victim's face and chest. Preliminary findings suggest he died due to a blow to the chest," he said, adding that legal proceedings are underway.
According to police, the victim's family and local sources, a bunch of bananas was stolen a day earlier from an orchard owned by Swapan Mia in Baligaon area of Ward No 5 of Kaliganj municipality.
Yesterday morning, Swapan Mia's son Masum Mia went to the hotel and, upon seeing a bunch of bananas there, claimed it was stolen from their orchard. An argument broke out between Masum and the hotel's teenage employee Ananta Das, 17, which later escalated.
At that point, Masum's parents, Mohammad Swapan Mia, 55, and Majeda Khatun, 45, arrived at the scene and joined the scuffle. When hotel owner Liton Chandra Ghosh stepped in to calm the situation and protect his employee, he was assaulted.
At one stage, Liton Chandra Ghosh was struck severely on his face and chest. He collapsed to the ground and died on the spot, said a local.
Locals held the three accused and handed them over to police. All three detainees are residents of Baligaon area in Kaliganj upazila.
