Four armed youths went to the site at 10:00am and looked for the owner of the under-construction building. They shot Belal Mia, 45, a construction worker, in the hand as he declined to stop work on their orders, witnesses said.

The owner, who kept on refusing the gang for a long time, was not present there at that time.

"You cannot work here without paying us our deserved money," Belal quoted one of the extortionists as saying.

While leaving, they asked the workers to tell the owner to contact them.

Belal was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

However, when contacted, Mirpur police said no extortionist went to the spot.

"Belal was injured in a fight among the construction workers," duty officer at the Mirpur Police Station said at 5:30pm yesterday.