Pabna 'pir' shot dead in sleep

Just two days after a "pir" (a revered religious instructor) was killed in Chittagong, another one was shot dead in his sleep at Vorotpur of Atghoria upazila in Pabna yesterday.

Police have detained nine aides of the "pir" in connection with the killing and recovered a revolver from their possession.

The deceased, Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Salahuddin Khan Bishal, 30, was the leader of religious group "Darbar-e Resalate Naqshbandi Mozaddedia Tarikat".

Police suspect feud over the leadership of the group or properties might be the reason for the murder.

Quoting family sources and his aides, police said Salahuddin did not open his bedroom door until 9:00am yesterday and when his aides broke in, they found him dead.

"Salahuddin was shot dead when he was sleeping in the room early today [yesterday]." Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain of Atghoria Police Station said.

The nine aides police detained are: Hasem Ali Pramanik, 32, Md Mainul Islam, 35, Shafikul Islam, 32, Hashu Pramanik, 30, Md Ruhul Amin Firoz, 29, Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, 31, Md Masud Rana, 28, Aslam Ali, 47, and Md Nasir Uddin (age unknown).

Police recovered the revolver and two empty shells of bullets from their possession, said Officer-in-Charge SM Faruk Hossain of Atghoria Police Station.

"The aides were staying in the pir's house. None other went to the house so they are the prime suspects," the OC said.

"Salahuddin got the leadership of the group from his maternal grandfather Lutfar Rahman of Char Narina area in Shajadpur upazila in Sirajganj. He and his aunt Sathi both got the charge and they divided the properties of Lutfar. Salahuddin left Char Narina due to a dispute with his aunt and opened his own group in Atghoria upazila a couple of months ago," the OC said.