OUR CORRESPONDENT, Manikganj

Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with a case filed over the killing of a seven-year-old girl in Manikganj Sadar upazila.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the teenager from Dhaka’s Nawabganj area on Friday night, said Manikganj superintendent of police Sarwar Alam yesterday.

“He is currently in police custody. After interrogation, he will be produced before the juvenile court,” the SP said, adding that drives were underway to arrest another accused named Roni.

Meanwhile, the mother of the child, Atika Akter, filed a murder case against five people, including the teenager, with Sadar Police Station yesterday, SP Sarwar also said.

However, no case has yet been filed over the killing of the arrested teenager’s father and uncle in a mob attack on Thursday night, following allegations that the girl had been murdered.

The SP said no written complaint has so far been submitted by the relatives regarding the mob killing. “If they file any complaint, it will be registered as a case,” he added.

According to police and locals, Atika Akter, daughter of Dudal Mia of Bonparil village, went missing from near her home on Thursday afternoon. Around 10:00pm that night, locals found Atika’s body in a maize field near her home.

The girl was found with her hands and legs tied. Police suspect that she was killed either during an attempted rape or robbery of her jewellery. Atika’s family alleged that a teenage boy was involved. Later, agitated people beat up the teenage boy’s elder brother Nazmul, 20; their father Pannu Miah, 45; and Pannu’s brother Fazlu, 28.

On information, police went to the spot and rescued Nazmul alive but in a critically injured condition. Pannu and Fazlu were found dead, said Aminul Islam, inspector (investigation) of Manikganj Sadar Police Station.

“We have found evidence of rape attempt on the girl. However, details will be known after getting the autopsy report,” Aminul added.