A Class-X student was hacked to death and three others were injured in an attack allegedly carried out by suspected drug dealers in Senbagh upazila of Noakhali on Wednesday night.
The deceased was identified as Arafat Hossain Fahim, 16, son of Shahjahan of the Hajipur area under Ward No. 9 of Chowmuhani municipality in Begumganj upazila.
According to local residents, a group of youths had recently protested against alleged drug trading in Debisinghpur village of Nabipur union. During the campaign, they reportedly detained a drug user named Manna. While being questioned, he allegedly disclosed the names of several local drug traders, including Md Harun, 35, son of Zainal Abedin of Jora Bari in the same village.
Following the incident, local youths began patrolling the area at night. Their activities reportedly forced the alleged drug traders to remain inactive for several days.
At around 8:00pm on Wednesday, a group of alleged drug dealers, led by Harun, Jahangir, Momin and Abul Khayer, attacked several youths near Baitun Aman Mosque. The victims included Ali Haidar Fahim, 18, Rifat, 20, and Sakib.
Arafat was also attacked after he arrived in Debisinghpur village to visit his grandparents and aunt, locals said.
The assault left four people injured. Locals rescued them and rushed them to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital, where doctors declared Arafat dead.
Officer-in-Charge of Senbagh Police Station Abdur Rahim Sarkar said preliminary investigations suggest the attack stemmed from a dispute over drug-related activities in the area.
He said police have arrested Harun in connection with the incident.
