Trader-Journalist Shot Dead in Jashore’s Monirampur

A journalist who is also running an ice factory was shot dead and had his throat slit in public in Monirampur upazila of Jashore yesterday evening.

The victim was identified as Rana Pratap Bairagi, 38, son of Tushar Kanti Bairagi of Arua village in Keshabpur upazila. He owned an ice factory at Kopalia Bazar in Monirampur.

He was also the acting editor of Daily BD Khobor, a newspaper published from Narail.

According to police and local residents, Rana Pratap was at his ice factory in Kopalia Bazar on yesterdayafternoon. Around 5:45pm, three miscreants arrived on a motorcycle and called him out of the factory. They took him to an alley in front of Kopalia Clinic and Diagnostic Centre on the western side of the bazar.

The attackers then shot him in the head at close range and fled the scene. Rana Pratap died on the spot. The incident triggered panic among locals in Kopalia Bazar and nearby areas. Police from Monirampur Police Station rushed to the scene after being informed.

Police said there are four cases against Rana Pratap-one with Abhaynagar Police Station and three with Keshabpur Police Station—though details of the cases were not immediately available.

Md Rajiullah Khan, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Monirampur Police Station said media the victim was shot three times in the head and his throat was slit. Preparations are under way to send the body to Jashore 250-bed General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

The OC said the motive behind the killing is yet to be determined and that police are investigating to identify those responsible. Legal proceedings are under process.