A hotelier died after being beaten up over a banana stalk theft in Kaliganj, Gazipur. The local mob arrested three people and handed them over to the police. The incident took place at the market of former MP Jitu Mia, adjacent to the Kaliganj municipal office, on Saturday (January 17) afternoon.

The deceased, Liton Chandra Ghosh alias Kali (50), is the son of the late Nirmal Chandra Ghosh of Chandaiya village in the municipality. He is a hotelier.

According to police station and local sources, Swapan Mia, son of the late Tara Mia of Baligaon village in the municipality, lives behind the hotel with his wife Majeda and son Masum.

A stalk from the banana garden planted by Swapan on the market owner’s land was stolen on Friday (January 16) night.

Swapan’s wife Majeda found the banana stick in the hotel staff’s room on Saturday morning and got into a fight.

At one point, Majeda called her husband and son, and they beat up hotel employee Antar. At that time, when hotel owner Liton Chandra Ghosh alias Kali Antar went to save him, they also beat him up and he fell to the ground.

Locals rescued him and took him to the Upazila Health Complex, where the doctor on duty at the emergency department declared him dead.

Hotel employee Samrat said that when Swapan’s wife Majeda came to the hotel for breakfast in the morning and started joking with another customer, we stopped her. She got angry and called her husband and son and attacked us.At one point, when our hotel owner fell to the ground, we took him to the hospital. When journalists asked about the banana theft, he avoided the issue.

Imran Khan, a doctor on duty at the emergency department of Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex, said that when Liton Chandra Ghosh alias Kali was brought to the hospital in the afternoon, he was examined and found dead. The deceased had cuts on his forehead and blood clots in his nose.

Kaliganj Police Station OC (Investigation) Md. Ashraful Islam said that the businessman was killed over the theft of banana sticks. After receiving the news, the body was recovered from the hospital and brought to the police station. Swapan, his wife Majeda and son Masum have been arrested in this incident.

Preparations are underway to send the body to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital for autopsy and the case is under process.