An elderly woman was hacked to death allegedly by her grandson for refusal to transfer land to him in Phulpur upazila of Mymensingh on Wednesday night.

The deceased was identified as Ayesha Khatun, 70, of Jatia village under Bhaitkandi union of the upazila.

Police arrested the accused – Jasim Uddin, son of late Mohidul Islam – over the incident.

According to police and locals, Ayesha had been living alone after being separated from her husband many years ago. Her only son died shortly after Jasim’s birth, and Jasim’s mother married another person. However, she also passed away.

Ayesha raised Jasim from childhood.

Growing as an adult, Jasim got married and built a house a short distance away, where he lived with his wife and two children. However, following a recent family dispute, his wife left him, forcing him to live alone.

Locals said Ayesha owned a piece of land, part of which Jasim used for cultivation. Suspecting that Ayesha’s nephews might claim a share of the property, Jasim had been pressuring his grandmother to transfer the land to him, leading to a conflict between them.

Around 9:00pm on Wednesday, an argument broke out between them when Jasim again demanded that Ayesha sign over the land deed. At one point, he allegedly hacked her with a sharp weapon, killing her on the spot.

Locals caught Jasim and informed the police. Law enforcers later rushed in and arrested him, said Sub-Inspector Azizul Haque of Phulpur Police Station.

He said they also recovered the body and sent it Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy .