A farmer was shot dead yesterday allegedly by a union parishad chairman during an altercation over a piece of land in Sherpur’s Nalitabari.

Police are looking for Habibur Rahman, Awami League-supported chairman of Jogania Union Parishad over the killing of Idris Ali, 26, of Kuttamara village, said Abul Khayer, officer-in-charge of Nalitabari Police Station.

He added that five other suspects had been detained.

The chairman had a long standing dispute over a piece of land with the victim’s family, he said.

Yesterday morning, supporters of the two parties engaged in an altercation over harvesting paddy on the disputed land, the OC added. 

At one stage, Habibur shot Idris in the throat. He was taken to Nalitabari Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, the OC said.

Police sent his body to Sherpur General Hospital morgue for autopsy.