A 62-year-old day labourer was allegedly beaten to death Sunday over a dispute regarding unpaid paddy harvesting wages in Kalmakanda upazila of Netrokona.

The victim was identified as Babul Mia, son of late Sonahar Mia of Borodol Poschim Para village in Kharnoi union.

According to family members and locals, Babul and his son, Md Sirajul Islam, harvested paddy in a field belonging to Habibur Rahman, around 20 to 25 days ago. Habibur allegedly owed them around Tk 15,000 in wages.

Kalmakanda Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Hashem said Sirajul demanded the due payment around 8:30am today, which led to an argument between the two sides.

At one stage, Habibur and his associates allegedly attacked Sirajul and started beating him.

Seeing the incident from a distance, Babul rushed to save his son, but he too came under attack, the OC said.

The attackers allegedly punched and beat Babul repeatedly, leaving him critically injured.

Locals rescued Babul and took him to Kalmakanda Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead, the police official added.

Shouvik Shrabon Dutta, a physician at the health complex, said Babul had died before being brought to the hospital.

Police later recovered the body and sent it to Netrokona Modern Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, said the OC.

“The matter is being investigated seriously. Those involved will be brought to justice and legal action will be taken against them,” Abul Hashem said.

Habibur has been in hiding since the incident, while the process of filing a case is underway, police said