Police have arrested three people on charges of kidnapping and raping a ninth-grade girl with her parents tied up. They are Abul Kalam Azad, 38, son of late Abdul Gafur of Pirmamud village in Rajarhat upazila of Kurigram, Abdus Salam, 42, son of late Umar Ali of Chhinaihat Baragram of the same upazila and Abdul Malek, 38, of Singadar village in adjoining Lalmonirhat district.
Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mahibul Islam Khan said at a press conference at the conference room of the district police office around 12 noon on Sunday that the three had been arrested. At the time, among others, Sadar police OC Md Mahfuzar Rahman, Rajarhat police OC Md Raju Ahmed and the investigating officer of the case and Inspector (Investigation) of Rajarhat Police Station Pabitra Kumar were present.
The police superintendent said that in just two weeks, a comprehensive search was conducted and the accused were identified and arrested. Abdul Malek was first arrested from Mahendranagar area of Sadar upazila of Lalmonirhat last Thursday. According to his confession, Abdus Salam was arrested from Bhurungamari on Friday and handed over to the court and remanded for 5 days.
Abul Kalam Azad was arrested on Saturday night from Hajir Mor area of Raiganj union in Nageshwari upazila. He was handed over to the court on Sunday and remanded for five days. Initially, the arrestees admitted to being involved in the incident.
It may be mentioned that three men broke the door of a house in Mahidhar Khandakshetra village of Chhinai union of Rajarhat upazila of the district on July 26 at midnight taking advantage of the torrential rain and lack of electricity.