Mob kills 2 over murder of child

Two people were killed and another sustained serious injury in a mob attack in Manikganj on Thursday night, following allegations against a member of their family of killing a seven-year-old girl.

According to police and locals, Atika Akter, daughter of Dudal Mia of Bonparil village in Manikganj Sadar, went missing from near her home around 5:00pm that day.

Following her disappearance, the family took to social media and megaphones to let people know and to locate her. Around 10:00pm that night, locals found Atika’s body in a maize field near her home.

The girl was found with her hands and legs tied, and police suspect she was killed either during an attempted rape or robbery of her jewellery.

Atika’s family alleged that a teenage boy was involved.

Around one hour later, agitating people beat up the teenage boy’s elder brother Nazmul, 20, their father Pannu Miah, 45, who is an autorickshaw driver; and Pannu’s brother Fazlu, 28, said locals and police.

On information, police went to the spot. Pannu and Fazlu were killed on the spot and Nazmul was critically injured but was rescued alive by police, said Aminul Islam, inspector (investigation) of Manikganj Sadar Police Station.

Nazmul was first taken to Manikganj 250-bed Hospital and later sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he added.

“During primary investigation, we have found evidence of rape attempt on the girl. However, details will be known after getting the autopsy report,” Aminul told The Daily Star.

No complaint was filed and no one was arrested as of filing of this report around 9:00pm yesterday.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to fend off any untoward incident, he added.

Talking to reporters, Atika’s uncle Rabiul Alam claimed that the teenage boy went into hiding after killing his niece by tying a cloth around her neck. Later, the agitated people beat up the teenager’s father, uncle, and brother.

Her mother Arifa Begum, in a choked voice, said, “Why did you kill my daughter? You need money; you should have told me. I would have given you money. My daughter was killed for her earrings and gold chain.”

Meanwhile, Nargis Begum, wife of deceased Pannu Mia, complained, “If my son [the teen] was guilty, he could have been handed over to the police. But why were my husband and brother-in-law killed? Why was my elder son [Nazmul] beaten up?”

Mohammad Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Manikganj police, said there might be an attempt to rape the girl child and to rob her jewellery. And then she was killed.

Police are investigating the incident and legal action will be taken upon investigation, he said.