A grocery shop owner was hacked to death by an unidentified miscreant in Cooch Behar on Thursday night.

Sources said Sajal Saha, 35, was attacked while he was closing his shop located in Maruganj, around 10pm.

“The attacker hacked the trader indiscriminately. He had sustained serious
injuries in his head and chest. As other shop owners raised an alert, the miscreant fled throwing away the sharp weapon on the spot,” said a source.

Sajal was rushed to the MJN Medical College & Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

As the news spread, the shop owners nearby panicked and closed down their shops.

Police have registered a case and initiated a probe. No arrests have been reported so far.

“We suspect that the trader has been murdered because of a family dispute. We have detained the father of the accused and are interrogating him. The accused is absconding,” said a police officer.