The incident took place at the upazila’s Munirkandi village on Sunday noon, said Mahidul Islam, sub-inspector of Sindiaghat Police outpost.  

The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old Idris Sheikh, resident of Munirkandi village. He was a freedom fighter, said Gohala union council chairman Shafiqul Alam.

Sub-inspector Mahidul said, Selim Matubbar and Al-Amin, two local youths, were involved in an altercation with van driver Sobuj in early hours of Sunday due to a dispute over harvesting paddy. At one point, the youths began to beat the driver and locals intervened.

Sobuj was attacked again in the afternoon. 

“As Idris obstructed the young men, they smashed his head into a wall. He was immediately rushed to Rajoir Upazila Medical Complex where the doctors declared him dead.”

Police have sent his body to Gopalganj Sadar Hospital for autopsy.