A youth was murdered allegedly by his brother-in-law and his family members in Malda on Monday night.

The death of Bhagabat Mohaldar, 25, of Mathurapur, Manikchak, made his family members and relatives put up a road blockade on a state highway on Tuesday. Police have arrested a person in connection with the incident and are in search of others.

Sources said that on Monday, Bhagabat went to the house of his sister Bhagabati, who lived close by, and allegedly faced torture from her husband and in-laws. “While returning home at night, Bhagabat heard his sister scream. He realised her husband and her father-in-law were beating her. He rushed to her rescue. This infuriated Shroban, the husband, and Suranjan, the father, who abused Bhagabat and attacked him with sharp weapons,” said one of the relatives.

Bhagabat suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the block hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Police reached the spot and shifted the body to the Malda Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy.

The relatives said that on Sunday, police were informed about the torture Bhagabati had to bear. "Timely intervention by police might have saved her brother's life,” said a relative.

Bhagabat's family has filed a complaint against four persons, including Shroban and Suranjan.

On Tuesday afternoon, Bhagabat's relatives blocked the Malda-Ratua state highway, demanding the accused be arrested.

Police intervened and dispersed the protesters with assurances in half an hour.

“One of the accused, a woman in Bhagabati's husband's family, has been arrested. Other members of the family have escaped and we are in search of them,” said a police officer.