A fish trader named Babu Shikdar was hacked to death early Friday in Barishal city’s Ward No. 5, Palashpur area, after he refused to pay extortion money demanded by a local teenage gang. The attack occurred at the Palashpur three-road junction, where gang members allegedly led by Madhu alias Tokai Madhu assaulted him with sharp weapons. Locals captured two suspects, identified as Shahid alias Kala Shahid and Mottu Siam, and handed them over to police.

According to the victim’s brother, Naeem Hossain, Tokai Madhu had been demanding money from Babu for a long time. When Babu refused, the gang ambushed him before dawn. Several others, including Redwan, Rubel alias Khato Rubel, Fakir Raju, Sajjad, and Soikat, were also named as participants in the attack. Babu was taken to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Kawnia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sanjit Chandra Nath confirmed the killing, saying it was carried out by a teenage gang and that drugs were involved. Two suspects have been detained, and police operations are ongoing to arrest the remaining attackers. A murder case is being prepared.