The victim, Masud Rana Howlader, 23, was a resident of Goalpara in Kashipur Ward of the city and owner of a workshop at Nathullabad.

Local people alleged they saw blood stains and other evidence of the murder were being erased from the spot in the presence of police and blocked the Barisal-Dhaka highway for about an hour demanding proper action against the killers.

Masud went out for his workshop Sunday evening but did not return home at night. His family then looked for him at all possible places but in vain.

People of the area said they saw next morning police on duty at the DIG office hiding a dead body and washing the spot where the body was lying. The agitated people then entered the office premises breaking open the collapsible gate and found Masud's body in front of the main office building. He was slaughtered and his abdomen was cut open, locals said.

Some sources alleged Masud was slaughtered behind the main office building in the early hours of Monday and his body was then dumped at the entrance to the building.

The office area is always kept under police guard.

The victim's father Shah Alam Howlader alleged that a few days ago local BNP cadres including Al- Amin, Salauddin, Zahid and Liton snatched a mobile phone and money from Masud. But they had to return those under pressure from local people. Then they demanded Tk 20,000 in toll from Masud, which he refused to pay. This might have led to his killing, he thought.

DIG Golam Mustafa declined to say anything on the ground that he had been on leave since Thursday due to illness.

Md Mohsin, superintendent of police, said sentries on duty at the DIG office saw a white microbus enter its premises late Sunday night and leave immediately after throwing a dead body in front of the main office building.

He however could not explain how the microbus entered the guarded area.

He denied the allegation of erasing the evidence of murder.

Masud's body was handed over to his family after autopsy. His father was preparing to file a murder case.