A Class-X student was hacked to death by alleged drug dealers in an attack that also left three other individuals injured in Senbagh upazila of Noakhali on Wednesday night.

The deceased was identified as Arafat Hossain Fahim, 16, son of Shahjahan of Hajipur area under Ward No. 9 of Chowmuhani municipality in Begumganj upazila.

According to locals, a group of youths had recently protested against alleged drug dealing at Debisinghpur village Nabipur union.

They reportedly detained a drug user named Manna, who, during questioning, disclosed the involvement of several local drug traders, including Md Harun, 35, son of Zainal Abedin of Jora Bari in the same village.

Following the incident, local youths began patrolling the area at night, forcing the alleged drug traders to remain inactive for several days.

On Wednesday night, a group of alleged drug dealers, led by Harun, Jahangir, Momin and Abul Khayer, attacked several youths, including Ali Haidar Fahim, 18, Rifat, 20, and Sakib, near Baitun Aman Mosque around 8:00pm.

They also attacked Arafat, who came to visit his grandparents and aunt in Debisinghpur village.

The incident left four of them injured.

Locals rescued and took them to 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital, where doctors declared Arafat dead.

Officer-in-Charge of Senbagh Police Station Abdur Rahim Sarkar said preliminary investigations suggest the attack stemmed from a dispute related to drug activities in the area.

He said they arrested Harun in connection with the incident.