abna, Sept 17 (V7N) – A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped and strangled to death before her body was placed in a sack and dumped in a pond in Pabna, while the suspects later joined searches, protests and a human chain calling for the missing child to be found, police said Thursday.
The two suspects allegedly tried to conceal their involvement by taking part in efforts to locate the girl, including searches organised by local residents, according to police.
Pabna Superintendent of Police (SP) Abu Ashraf disclosed the details at a press briefing at his office at around 6:30pm on Thursday.
Police have arrested two people in connection with the case. They were identified as Mostafa Kamal, 55, son of the late Abdul Matin Pramanik of Kulunia village, and Yasin Ali, 21, son of the late Mohabbat Ali of Subarnasar village in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj. Yasin had been living in a rented house in Ward No. 8 of Kulunia.
The SP said investigators uncovered the circumstances surrounding the killing based on information provided by the suspects, digital evidence obtained from mobile phones and other evidence collected from the crime scene.
According to police, Kamrunnahar Koli, daughter of Kamal Pramanik of Kulunia village under Dogachhi Union, went missing on the evening of Sept 9.
Police alleged that on that day, Mostafa Kamal and Yasin Ali lured the child into a bedroom behind Mostafa’s grocery shop, where they allegedly sexually assaulted her. Fearing that the incident would be discovered, the two allegedly strangled her to death.
The suspects then allegedly planned to dispose of the body. Police said they initially placed the body inside a yellow plastic sack and kept it under a bed in Mostafa’s room.
The following night, they allegedly placed the first sack inside another white sack. They then tied two bricks to the sack and submerged it in an abandoned pond near the house, concealing it beneath bushes, vines and other vegetation.
Police said the suspects subsequently attempted to behave normally and even participated in local efforts to find Koli. Residents had organised a human chain and conducted searches from house to house in an effort to locate the missing child.
According to the SP, the suspects attempted to move the body to another location late on Sept 15. While carrying the sack towards a septic tank, a strong odour reportedly emerged from the body. The suspects allegedly became frightened after hearing dogs barking and abandoned the sack before fleeing.
Local residents discovered the body the following morning and informed police.
Investigators also recovered important information from a mobile phone allegedly used by Mostafa Kamal, police said. According to police, Koli had visited Mostafa’s grocery shop with her younger brother at around 9:52am on Sept 9. Mostafa allegedly took several photographs of the child on his mobile phone.
Although the photographs were later deleted, police said they were recovered using digital forensic technology.
SP Abu Ashraf said the autopsy found evidence consistent with rape and murder. The autopsy report and results of other forensic examinations are also being considered as part of the investigation, he said.
The two arrested suspects have been placed on five-day police remand. Investigators are questioning them to determine whether anyone else was involved and to establish further details concerning the alleged sexual assault, killing and disposal of the body.
Given the seriousness of the case, the investigation was handed over to the Pabna District Detective Branch (DB) on Thursday. Police have instructed investigators to complete the investigation as quickly as possible and submit a charge sheet to the court.
Additional Superintendent of Police Shakhawat Hossain, DB Officer-in-Charge Rashedul Islam and Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tarikul Islam were among those present at the briefing.
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