Body of Young Man Recovered from Betel-Nut Garden in Lakshmipur's Purba Nandanpur; Police Suspect Drug-Trade Feud

Police have recovered the body of a young man named Zakir Hossain Jewel (35) from a betel-nut garden in the Diputy Bari area of Purba Nandanpur village, under Dakshin Hamchadi Union of Lakshmipur Sadar upazila. The body was recovered at around 1 a.m. on Sunday night (October 25). He had been killed with a sharp weapon blow to the throat.

Police believe that earlier, at around 11 p.m., assailants killed Jewel, left the body in the garden and fled. Police initially suspect the killing may have stemmed from dominance or a feud in the drug trade.

The deceased Jewel was the son of Tofayel Ahmed of the Purba Nandanpur area. Several cases over arms and drugs are pending against him. Police and local sources also said there were widespread allegations of yaba selling against him in the area.

According to police and local sources, unknown assailants struck Jewel in the throat with a sharp weapon, left the body in the betel-nut garden and left. Local people saw it and informed the police, after which police went and recovered the body.

Wahid Parvez, officer-in-charge (OC) of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station, said Jewel had been released from jail on bail in a drug case a few days ago. The killing is suspected to have resulted from a drug-related conflict.

The OC also said the body had been sent to the Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Those involved in the incident will be identified quickly and legal action will be taken, he said.