Local people yesterday demanded immediate arrest and capital punishment of the culprits, who killed madrasa girl Jamila Akhter Rikta after rape, in Sadar upazila of the district on June 15.

They made the demand at a press conference held at Gaibandha Press Club. Rikta, 13, a student of class six at Kholahati Forkania Madrasa, was picked up by a gang from in front of their house at Chhoyghoria village under Kholahati union of Sadar upazila on the day.

Speaking at the press conference under the ban-

ner of “Gono Sangram Committee" Sheikh Samad Azad, convenor of the committee, said the gang took Rikta to a nearby paddy field and strangled her after rape.

Kholahati union Parishad member Abdul Halim, Asad Ali, Delwer Khan Dulu, Jharan Begum, Anisur Rahman, freedom fighter Naya Mia, Mousumi Akhter Toma also addressed the conference.

They demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the culprits. Otherwise, they threatened to launch an agitation programme in the area.

Locals found Rikta's body in the paddy field the following day and informed the police, who recovered body and sent it Sadar Hospital where an autopsy of the body was done the same day. According to autopsy report, Rikta was killed after rape.

Rikta's father Jaharul Islam filed a murder case with Sadar Police Station on June 16, but police could not arrest anyone in connection with the incident as of yesterday.

Contacted, the officer-in-charge of the police station said they are trying to arrest the culprits involved the incident.