A 35-year-old Hindu fish trader was allegedly beaten to death in Bangladesh’s Manikganj district after failing to pay Tk 40,000 reportedly demanded by members of a local market management committee, according to family members.

The incident took place on 6th of May, Wednesday afternoon at the office of the Tara Bazar Management Committee in Sadar upazila of Manikganj district.

The deceased, identified as Krishno Rajbongshi, was a resident of the Bandutia Mahishbari area under Manikganj municipality. He earned his living by fishing in different water bodies and occasionally unloading fish from trucks at Tara Bazar. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

According to the victim’s wife, Jamuna Rani, her husband had earlier been detained at the market committee office over allegations of fish theft. She claimed that two men arrived at their home on motorcycles on Wednesday morning and demanded Tk 40,000 in exchange for his release.

“As a poor family, it was impossible for us to arrange such a large amount of money,” she said.

Jamuna Rani alleged that when she later went to the committee office, she saw her husband being physically assaulted. Speaking emotionally, she said she pleaded with those present to hand him over to the police instead.

“They hung my husband’s body from a fan after beating him. They made me a widow and destroyed the future of my children,” she alleged, demanding justice for the killing.

The victim’s cousin, Lalchan Rajbongshi, also claimed that Krishno was beaten to death after the family failed to pay the demanded money.

Police and local sources said Krishno had left home on Wednesday morning. Members of the market committee reportedly detained him and another individual on accusations of fish theft. While the other person was later released, Krishno was allegedly kept inside the office, where the fatal assault is believed to have occurred.

Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the exact cause of death. An investigation into the incident is underway.