Pabna, Apr 20 (V7N)- In a horrific crime that has shocked the region, police in Pabna have arrested five individuals in connection with the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl named Jui. The arrests followed a swift investigation into the incident that occurred on April 14th, the first day of the Bengali New Year (Baishakh).

According to initial police interrogations, the suspects, after allegedly consuming marijuana and failing to procure money for other purposes, encountered Jui while she was picking mangoes in a local orchard. Driven by what they described as "a sense of cruelty," they reportedly took the child to a nearby banana orchard. There, they allegedly took turns raping her before strangling her to death using her school pants. Authorities also revealed that the perpetrators attempted to disfigure the child's face with an acid-like liquid to prevent identification.

The details of the crime were disclosed by Manjurul Alam, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chatmohar Police Station in Pabna, during a press briefing held on Sunday afternoon.

The five individuals arrested have been identified as Sohel Rana (25), Sheikh Sadi (16), Shakib (16), Siam (13), and Abdullah (16).

OC Manjurul Alam stated that on the afternoon of April 14th, Jui left her home, telling her family she was going to her grandmother's house. From there, she went to a neighbor's mango orchard. It was there that she was allegedly abducted by the teenagers. They then took her to the banana orchard where the heinous acts were committed.

The police official further revealed that the accused had initially planned to use marijuana and "bring a bad girl for fun" on Pohela Baishakh. However, when they could not gather the necessary funds, they encountered Jui and allegedly subjected her to the brutal assault and murder. Following the discovery of Jui's body in a cornfield near her home on April 15th, a joint operation by Baraigram and Chatmohar police led to the apprehension of the five suspects and the uncovering of crucial evidence. The arrested individuals have since been handed over to the Pabna court.

Jui's family had reported her missing after she left home on the afternoon of April 14th. The subsequent discovery of her body led her mother to file a murder case with the Chatmohar Police Station against unknown individuals.

END/SRP/RH/