Our Correspondent, Dinajpur

A five-year-old, who was found dead in a pond on Tuesday morning in Rangpur, was killed by her neighbour after she protested sexual abuse on her, said police.

Law enforcers arrested the perpetrator, Jahrul Haq (45), of Borobari Sarkarpara, from Keranipara area in the town on Wednesday, said ABM Zakir Hossain, superintendent of police of PBI in Rangpur at a briefing yesterday. Jahrul gave his confessional statement before a court yesterday.

The SP said the girl, Mysha Akter, daughter of Monwar Hossain, was playing near her home on Monday noon. Jahrul took her to his home and molested her. Protesting the incident, she went out of the home, returned with a stick and started hitting him, said the SP.

Jahrul then pushed her hard. Her head hit against piles of bamboo kept in the room, killing her on the spot. He then put her body in a bag, dumped it in the pond at night and went into hiding.

Later, locals saw a body floating in the pond and informed police. Her body bore torture marks on neck and ear. A murder case was filed.