In a horrific incident that has sent shockwaves across the country, a five-year-old child was brutally gang-raped and murdered in the Dhobaura Upazila of Mymensingh. Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the crime, while an intense manhunt is underway to apprehend the fourth perpetrator.
The Sequence of Events
The victim went missing on Sunday afternoon while returning home after buying snacks from a local market. According to investigators, she was intercepted near her home by four local youths who lured her away with the promise of “Kadam flowers.”
The perpetrators took the child to a secluded, jungle-covered area near the banks of the Kangsha River. There, she was subjected to a brutal gang rape. Following the assault, the assailants, in an attempt to destroy evidence and thinking the child was near death, threw her into the river while she was still alive.
Discovery and Investigation
The child’s family conducted an extensive search throughout the evening. Her body was eventually discovered floating in the Kangsha River, approximately 500 yards from her home, around 7:30 PM.
The gravity of the crime came to light during preparations for the child’s burial. When female relatives were performing the ritual cleansing (ghusl), they discovered severe injuries, leading them to halt the burial and notify the police. Following a post-mortem examination at the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, the body was handed over to the family on Monday afternoon.
Police Action
A case was filed by the victim’s father on Monday night at the Dhobaura Police Station. Police have since arrested three of the accused: Maruf Miah (19), Arif Miah (19), and Rakib Miah (21), all residents of Tangahati village in the Goyatala Union.
Md. Mizanur Rahman, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Haluaghat Circle), confirmed the arrests and the details of the investigation.
“One of the detainees has provided a detailed confession, admitting that four individuals were involved in the gang rape and subsequent murder. Efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining suspect and bring them to justice,” said ASP Rahman.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage in the local community, with calls for swift legal proceedings and the maximum penalty for the perpetrators. Police have assured the public that a rigorous investigation is underway to ensure that all those responsible face the full force of the law.
