Savar Schoolgirl Murder: Smoke and mirrors surrounding arrest of two, alongside Mizan

Savar police in a drive on Friday night arrested Mizanur Rahman (20), who allegedly stabbed Savar schoolgirl Nila Roy to death on Sunday night.

However, there were contradicting remarks about the number of arrestees in a drive at Savar's Rajfulbaria area. 

Maruf Hashan Sardar, SP of Dhaka told reporters at Savar Model Police Station yesterday noon that around 10pm on Friday, prime accused of Nila murder case Mizanur Rahman was arrested from a house owned by one Parvez.

Based on information revealed by Mizan, they also recovered the knife used for killing Nila, said the SP, adding that he was sent to Dhaka court with police seeking 10-day remand.

A Dhaka court placed Mizan on seven-day remand in connection with the case.

However, earlier on Friday night, Saiful Islam, inspector (investigation) of Savar Police Station told reporters that they arrested Mizan and his two associates -- Sakib and Joy -- from a house at Savar 's Rajfulbaria area, bringing the number of arrestees in the case to six. One Selim Palowan and Mizan's parents had been arrested earlier in the case.  

His statement was broadcast in at least two TV channels, as well as published online on several news web sites including a leading newspaper. 

The Daily Star has copies of the reports.

But yesterday, Saiful backtracked on the arrest of two others along with Mizan, saying only one person was arrested on Friday night.

When asked about Saiful's previous statement, the SP told the reporters that they only arrested Mizan from that house. So far, four persons have been arrested over Nila murder case, he added.

The Daily Star tried to reach Shirajul Islam Shiru -- father of Shakib -- for comments, but his phone was found switched off.  

On Thursday, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Mizan's parents Abdur Rahman (60) and Nazmunnahar Shadika (50) in the murder case filed by the victim's father, and they are in two-day remand under police.

On Tuesday, police arrested Selim Palowan (28), an associate of Mizan, for his alleged involvement in the murder.

On Sunday evening, Nila -- a 10th-grader of Aced School -- was going to a hospital with her brother Alok when they were intercepted by Mizan, who had been pursuing Nila for a romantic relationship, according to her family. 

Mizan then forced Nila into an abandoned house, where he stabbed and left her. Upon hearing her scream, locals rescued and rushed her to Enam Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Day after the incident, Nila's father filed a case with against Mizan and his parents, and three to four unnamed people.

Speaking to locals, The Daily Star came to know that Mizan was a member of "Shakil and Sakib" gang. Members of the gang are infamous for extorting people and businesses, and are often involved in stalking girls and peddling drugs, alleged locals of Savar's Dakkhin Para. Shakil and Sakib are sons of Awami League joint secretary of Savar Municipality Shirajul Islam Shiru.

Meanwhile, over a thousand residents of Savar  under the banner of at least 25 organisations yesterday formed a human chain at Ganda  area beside Dhaka-Aricha highway demanding capital  punishment to  Mizan and  culprits involved the murder.

Dr Enamur Rahman, state minister for disaster management and local MP of Savar, municipality mayor Hazi Abdul Goni, and Savar Upazila chairman Monaural Alam Razib, among others, were present at the human chain.