Katihar, Dec. 9: A 27-year-old man died in Katihar today after his cousin allegedly beat him up over a plot of land.

Ghulam Natik, a resident of Dhumtola around 40km north of Katihar town and 295km northeast of Patna, succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital.

A fight broke out between Natik and his cousin, Mohammad Taukir, around 7am today. The bone of contention was a portion of a six-cottah family landthat Natik wanted to sell. Residents said Natik wanted to sell approximately three-cottah land but Taukir was against it.

Dhumtola resident Mohammad Shakib said: 'They were fighting over a favourable site which both of them laid claim to. Taukir hit Natik with a rotten bamboo stick but there were no external injuries on him. Nobody had thought Natik would die.'

Natik died on way to the Katihar Sadar hospital. The body has been sent for post-mortem. Barsoi sub-divisional police officer Chandrika Prasad said a murder case has been registered.

He told The Telegraph: 'Natik wanted to sell off a portion but Taukir wanted the same area in his share. Taukir bludgeoned Natik to death over this. We have registered a case of murder against him. Only after post-mortem, we would be able to confirm how he died.'