Man Electrocuted During Alleged Battery Theft Attempt

A 32-year-old man died after reportedly being electrocuted while attempting to steal the battery of a three-wheeled electric vehicle in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj district late on Thursday night, police and local sources said.

The deceased was identified as Shoaib Mia, son of Abdul Bachit of Nadampur village under Bausa Union in Nabiganj.

Police visited the scene on Friday morning after receiving information about the incident. Officers prepared an inquest report before sending the body to the Habiganj Sadar Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination as part of the legal process.

According to local residents, Shoaib had allegedly been involved in repeated thefts over an extended period, particularly targeting batteries from locally operated electric three-wheelers, commonly known as tomtoms or mishuks, as well as valuables from residential properties. Residents claimed he had previously been detained by members of the community on several occasions over similar allegations. Instead of pursuing formal legal action, they said he had been warned and released each time.

The fatal incident is believed to have occurred at Shahjalal Auto Rice Mill in the Barak Nagar area along the Nabiganj–Rudragram road. Local sources said an electric three-wheeler had been left inside the mill premises overnight with its battery connected to a charging point. Shoaib allegedly entered the premises intending to remove the battery. During the attempt, he reportedly came into contact with a live electrical source and suffered a fatal electric shock. He died at the scene before anyone became aware of the incident.

The body was discovered early on Friday morning by Rakhal Chandra Das, the driver of the electric vehicle. He said he had parked the vehicle inside the rice mill at around 11:00 pm on Thursday, secured the premises and returned to his nearby rented accommodation for the night.

“When I came back in the morning to take the vehicle out, I found Shoaib lying motionless inside the mill,” Rakhal said. Realising the man was dead, he immediately informed the police.

A team from Nabiganj Police Station subsequently arrived at the location, secured the scene and completed the required legal formalities before recovering the body.

Officer-in-Charge Md Abul Hossain said the body had been sent to Habiganj Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

“The exact cause of death will be confirmed after we receive the post-mortem report. We are investigating all aspects of the incident and legal procedures are underway,” he said.

Police have not yet released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing. The post-mortem findings are expected to help determine the precise cause of death and establish whether any additional factors contributed to the fatal incident.