One of the five people detained over the killing of four children at Bahubol, Habiganj has admitted his involvement in the incident of abduction and murders.
Rubel Mia, 30, gave the confessional statement at the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Khandaker Kowshik Ahmed yesterday evening.
He said that six people had taken part in the abduction and murders under the directives of his father, Abdul Ali, over an arbitration around two months back. The arbitration was held over felling of a tree.
After recording the statement, the court sent Rubel and two other detainees – Bashir Mia and Arju Mia – to jail.
Two other people – Abdul Ali and Jewel Mia – were detained soon after the recovery of the bodies of the children on Wednesday morning. They were placed on a 10-day remand in the case.
The other detainees also admitted their involvement in the incident, said Sylhet range DIG Mizanur Rahman.
Police yesterday seized the CNG-run autorickshaw used in the abduction, but refused to give details.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki said that trial of the murder case would be held under a special tribunal.
She also said that proper action would be taken if the allegation of police’s negligence was found during investigation. The junior minister made the comments while visiting the families of the victims at Shundratiki village yesterday morning.
Earlier, the families claimed that the local police station’s officer-in-charge was reluctant to look into the matter when they wanted to file a complaint over the matter.
The victims are Monir Miah, 7, son of Abdal Miah; Jakaria Ahmed Shuvo, 8, son of Md Wahid Miah; Tajel Miah, 10, son of Abdul Aziz; and Ismail Hossain, 10, son of Abdul Kader. Fathers of Jakaria, Tajel and Monir are cousins while Ismail was their neighbour.
Of the victims, Monir was a student of class I at Shundratiki Primary School, Jakaria of class II and Tajel of class IV. Ismail was a student of Shundratiki Madrasa.
Jakaria’s father Wahid filed a case with Bahubol police on Tuesday night.
Locals traced the bodies buried in a ditch at the village on Wednesday morning and informed the police. According to the post-mortem examination reports, the children were strangled to death.
The district police authorities the same day declared a reward of Tk1 lakh for giving information to trace the criminals.
At an emergency press briefing yesterday evening, Superintendent of Police Joydeb Kumar Bhadra said that six persons – Arju Mia, Ustar Mia, Helal Mia, Shahed Mia and Rubel – committed the murders.
Quoting Rubel, he said that the children were taken on an autorickshaw owned by Bachchu on February 12. But instead of dropping them at their houses, the killers first sedated them and later strangled them to death.
The bodies were kept in sacks at Bachchu’s garage for two days and later buried in the ditch, the SP said.
“We have sought 10-day remand for three detainees. The hearing will be held on Monday. We hope to complete the investigation in 15 days,” he added.