An elderly woman and her three grandchildren were burnt to death when her son-in-law set her house on fire at Dumuria village in Gopalganj Sadar upazila yesterday.
The victims were identified as Furia Begum, 65, her daughter Rony’s children Tamim, 8, a class II student of Dumdia Government Primary School, Aminur Sardar, 13, a class VIII student of Manikhar High School and Tanima, 5.
The deceased Furia’s daughter Sharifa Begum said her sister Rony’s husband Azad Molla had perpetrated this gruesome crime because of a family feud. Locals also made the same allegation against Azad.
Police arrested Azad from Puthimari village in Narail’s Noragati police station area. He also confessed to have perpetrated this grisly crime.
Earlier on Saturday evening, Azad had threatened to burn alive his mother-in-law Furia on mobile phone on Saturday evening, said Sharifa. “Later around 11pm, he poured kerosene around the house and set it on fire.”
“I was able to get out of the window of the house soon after I got wind of the fire while my mother and sister along with my two nephews and one niece could not as their rooms was closed from outside by Azad.”
“Locals rushed to the scene, hearing their cry for help. They pulled out my mother, nephews Aminur and Tamim dead and rescued my sister Rony and niece Tonima alive.”
Rony and Tonima were rushed to hospital, but Tonima died soon afterwards, she added.
Rony, who lost her three children, went into a state of extreme shock. She had been living with her mother after disagreements between her and her husband.
Gopalganj General Hospital’s Residential Medical Officer Asit Mallik said, “Rony has had extreme burns, but she is out of danger now. She is talking like a madman because she has broken down mentally, losing her mother and three children.”
Arsonist Azad said, “I wanted to kill my wife and mother-in-law because my wife had an extra-marital affair in which my mother-in-law used to support. I am sorry for those who were innocent but had to suffer. I would be happy if my wife had been killed”
He also admitted that he had threatened to kill his wife and her mother in the fire.
The Fire Service and Civil Defense already formed a three-member committee, led by Assistant Director (Faridpur Zone, Shamsuddoha, to investigate the incident. The committee visited the scene and began investigating yesterday.
Gopalganj Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Md Zakir Hossain Molla said they had also detained eight others, including arsonist Azad’s father, brothers and nephews for interrogation over the incident.
Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman said, “This is a shocking incident. We have arrested arsonist Azad Molla. A case is underway against him. Justice will be ensured by putting him on trial.”