Baraigram, Natore, May 15 (V7N) – Locals in Baraigram, Natore, organized a human chain on Wednesday (May 14th) to demand a thorough re-investigation into the brutal murder of 8-year-old Jui and the apprehension of the actual culprits.

The human chain took place on the road in front of the residence of the deceased child, Jui, in Garfa Uttarpara village of the upazila.

Speakers at the event included Mahbub Sardar, convener of the Baraigram Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; local resident Mamun Al Hasan; Nuhu Islam, a leader of the Baraigram Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; Kibria Hossain, a leader of the Pabna Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; local resident Ziaur Rahman Master; rural doctor Hasan Ali; Momina Khatun, the mother of the deceased child Jui; Zahura Khatun, Jui's grandmother; and numerous other concerned individuals.

The speakers voiced their concern that attempts were being made to misclassify the murder case and protect the real perpetrators. The locals and Jui's relatives believe that four of the five individuals arrested by the police, excluding Siam, are not involved in the murder. They argued that extensive interrogation of Siam would likely reveal the identities of the true criminals. Consequently, the local residents and Jui's family demanded that the police administration conduct a fresh investigation into the murder of child Jui, arrest the actual culprits, and bring them to justice.

On the morning of April 15th, the naked body of 8-year-old Jui Khatun was discovered in a cornfield in Rampur Beel, located in the neighboring Chatmohar Upazila. The body had burn marks on the face.

Jui was the daughter of Zahidul Islam, a Malaysian expatriate from Garfa Uttarpara village in Baraigram upazila, and a student at Garfa Azeda Noorani Kinder Garden Madrasa. Following the discovery, Jui's mother, Momina Khatun, filed a case with the Chatmohar police station against unknown individuals.

Subsequently, on April 19th, the police arrested five individuals in connection with uncovering the mystery of Jui's murder and their alleged involvement. These individuals later provided confessional statements under Section 164 in court.

In their statements to the police, the arrested individuals claimed that on April 14th, the first day of Baishakh, they had planned to smoke marijuana and find a girl for sexual gratification. Unable to obtain money, they smoked marijuana in a mango orchard. While there, they encountered seven-year-old Jui picking mangoes. Allegedly overcome by a "sense of cruelty," they took the child to a nearby banana orchard, where they collectively raped and then strangled her to death using her school pants. They also reportedly attempted to disfigure her face with an acid-like liquid to prevent identification.

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

During the human chain, Jui's mother, Momina Khatun, was visibly distraught and broke down in tears while participating in the demonstration.

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