Schoolgirl Maria’s murder, 8 people including main accused arrested
Eight people, including the main accused and two teachers, have been arrested and sent to jail in the murder case of schoolgirl Maria Akhter (14) in Singair, Manikganj. On Monday (June 22) afternoon, an agitated mob vandalized the house of the main accused Alif. The arrested are – Alif (16), Masud (35), Sujan (30), Russell (30), Alif’s mother Ruma (45), Alif’s sister Mim (22), acting headmaster of Sahrail School Sirajul Islam (59) and ICT teacher Yakub Molla (29).
According to the case report and local sources, around 5 pm last Sunday, the police recovered the dismembered body of schoolgirl Maria from a secluded forest near the Chandannagar graveyard in Jarmitta Union of the upazila. The deceased Maria is the daughter of Mizanur Rahman, an expatriate from Char Lakshmipur village of Sayesta Union of the upazila.
It is learned that on June 15, Maria was accused of misbehaving with class 10 student Alif Hossain in a classroom during the school’s tiffin break. After the matter was caught on the school’s CCTV footage, the guardians of the two students were called and a bond was taken. Later, the school authorities gave TC (transfer certificate) to both of them.
Maria went missing after leaving home that day. Despite searching in various places, her family members could not find any trace of her. Later, a general diary (GD) was filed by the family at Singair Police Station. Six days after her disappearance, locals recovered a half-melted body from a bush near the graveyard in Chandannagar area at around 5 pm last Sunday. On receiving the information, the police went to the spot and identified the body as Maria’s.
Singair Police Station OC Md. Mazharul Islam confirmed the matter and said that initially it is believed that the girl was killed 5-6 days ago. A case was filed against 16 people in this incident and 8 people, including the main accused, were arrested and sent to court. Later, the court sent them to jail. Efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused.
