Sixteen people, including nine detained aides, were sued for killing 'pir' (a revered religious instructor) Hazrat Maulana Mohammad Salahuddin Khan, alias Bishal, 30.

The detained aides are Hashem Ali Pramanik, 32, Md Mainul Islam, 35, Shafikul Islam, 32, Hashu Pramanik, 30, Md Ruhul Amin Firoz, 29, Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, 31, Md Masud Rana, 28, Aslam Ali, 47, and Md Nasir Uddin (age unknown).

The victim's grandfather filed a murder case with Atghoria Police Station on Sunday night, accusing 16 people, including the detained nine aides of the 'pir'. The rest are unidentified, police said.

In the case statement, the complainant stated that the accused shot his grandson, 'pir' of religious group Darbar-e Resalate Naqshbandi Mozaddedia Tarikat, when he was asleep in his room early Sunday, said sub-inspector (SI) Alamgir Hossain of Atghoria Police Station.

"Darbar-e Resalate Naqshbandi Mozaddedia Tarikat was started by Salahuddin's maternal grandfather Lutfor Rahman of Char Narina in Shahjadpur of Sirajganj. After the death of Lutfor, my grandson received the leadership of the group and also got Lutfor's property. This resulted in enmity with his maternal relatives," the complainant said.

Dispute over leadership of the group and its property was behind the murder of Salahuddin, according to the primary inquiry, SI Alamgir said, adding that more information about the incident will be uncovered after quizzing the detained aides.

Police produced the detained aides of the 'pir' before the judicial magistrate's court yesterday, seeking seven days' remand. The court sent them to jail and will fix the date of hearing on the remand prayer today, the SI said.