The dead were identified as Dibyendu Poddar, 38, a rice trader of village Badalsha under Shailakupa upazila in Jhenidah and Mashiur Rahman, 32, a shop owner of Karamdi village in Meherpur.

According to Jhenidah police, unidentified criminals shot Dibyendu through the window of his room at about 12 noon while he was sleeping. He died instantly.

The victim's family members alleged that a local gang had been threatening to kill him, as he refused to pay them Tk 1 lakh toll a few days ago.

Dibyendu also informed the local police about the matter, but police did not take any step, they further alleged.

In Meherpur, police recovered the slaughtered body of Mashiur from a mango grove at Karamdi village yesterday. He had been missing since Sunday.

Family sources said a local gang abducted Mashiur from his shop in the village while he was sleeping there. The gang had earlier threatened to punish him after his refusal to pay them Tk 50,000 toll.

After abduction, the gang slaughtered him and left the body at the mango grove.

Local people found the body and informed police.

Police sent the body to Meherpur General Hospital.