Tree cutting turns deadly: Relative kills couple over land dispute, later arrested
Telegraph | 16 January 2026
A couple were hacked to death by their relative over a family dispute in the Mathabhanga subdivision of Cooch Behar on Wednesday. The accused, Narayan Barman, was arrested.
A source said Dilip Barman, 40 — of Bhogmara-Dakuatari village under the Ghoksadanga police station area — had an altercation with Narayan, his cousin and neighbour, over the cutting of a palm tree on the shared boundary of their properties.
Narayan attacked Dilip with a sharp weapon. Dilip’s wife, Sampa, 31, rushed to help him. Narayan hacked both of them severely and they collapsed on the spot. Residents took the couple to a local hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead. A police team soon nabbed Narayan from the village. An investigation is on. He was produced in court today and was sent to police custody for two days, said a source.