Local residents formed a human chain and brought out a protest procession in Bauphal of Patuakhali on Thursday, demanding swift arrest and capital punishment for those involved in the brutal killing of Sakil Mridha.

The hour-long human chain was held around 3:30pm on Milghar Road in Adabaria union of Bauphal, with participation from the victim’s relatives, neighbours and locals. A protest march later paraded different roads of the union and ended at the same spot.

Speakers termed the incident a premeditated and heinous murder and called for a fair and speedy trial. They warned of tougher protests if the killers are not arrested immediately and given exemplary punishment.

Police recovered the body of Sakil Mridha, 25, with hands and feet tied from a pond in the Milghar area on Monday afternoon and later confirmed his identity. He managed ticket counters of Dhaka-bound Moon Paribahan and Chairman Paribahan and was the son of the late Sobhan Mridha of Mahashraddi village.

The victim’s elder brother Advocate Siddikur Rahman filed a murder case with Bauphal Police Station against unnamed suspects.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Siddikur Rahman said one person has been detained and drives are underway to identify and arrest others involved.