A man suspected of raping and killing a child a week ago has been killed in a reported gunfight with police.
The deceased was identified as Shamim, 21, a resident of Bautia village in Mohanpur union of Godagari upazila of Rajshahi.
Police believe he was involved in the rape and murder of an 11-year-old, whose body was discovered under a pile of paddy husk on June 20, at Lalitnagar village in Godagari upazila.
They recovered a mobile phone from Shamim’s possession, which they suspect he stole from the child’s house.
Additional Superintendent of Police Iftekhar Alam, spokesperson of Rajshahi district police, confirmed the matter.
He said a team of police was patrolling the Lalitnagar area in the Godagari upazila on Thursday night when they came across a group of miscreants.
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The miscreants opened fire at the policemen, who retaliated in self-defence, the ASP said.
During the exchange of fire, one person was shot and killed. Police identified the deceased as Shamim on Friday morning.
Police said the child, Sumaiya Khatun, who was a Class IV student, went missing in the middle of the night after she went to sleep at around 11:30pm on Saturday night.
As her parents started looking for her on Sunday morning, they found her body hidden under a pile of paddy husk.
ASP Iftekhar Alam said police had been searching for those responsible for Sumaiya’s death. Shamim's involvement in Sumaiya’s rape and murder was confirmed when police found the mobile phone on his person, he added.
Godagari police are working to find further details on Shamim, the ASP said.
"Shamim's body will be handed over to his family after an autopsy at the Rajshahi Medical College morgue. A case is being prepared to be filed in this regard," he added.
