A 50-year-old man was beaten to death and two others injured after being chased on the Jamuna river on suspicion of stealing fishing nets in Jamalpur's Islampur upazila on Saturday afternoon.

The deceased are Nur Mohammad, of Kunderpara village in Kamarjani union under Gaibandha Sadar upazila, said Islampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman.

The injured are Jahangir, 40, of Batikamari area in Gaibandha, and Rafiqul, 35, of Barkhal village in Dewanganj upazila of Jamalpur.

The incident occurred in the remote Char Barul area of the river under Belgachha union, said police.

Police and locals said the three men went to the Barul area on a small boat when local fishermen gave them a chase, suspecting them of stealing fishing nets. As they fled towards the Guthail Ghat-Ulia area, other fishermen there also joined the chase. They were eventually caught in the Barul area and beaten, leaving Nur Mohammad dead on the spot and the two others injured. The injured are now undergoing treatment in Jamalpur General Hospital.

The OC said they have recovered the body and rescued the two injured individuals.

The body has been sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy, while the injured are undergoing treatment, the OC said, adding that legal action was underway.