Arson attack on rape suspects’ houses: 3 victims die in Pabna

Three curious onlookers who sustained burn injuries following an arson attack on the houses of three suspects in the rape and murder of a ninth-grade girl in Pabna district, died at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on Monday night and Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as Sumon Sheikh, son of Tajir Uddin of East Raghabpur area; Saiful Islam Sabbir, son of Shakur Hossain; and Shapu, son of Yusuf, of Natun Para in Sadar upazila.

On June 3, police recovered the body of Riya Khatun, 15, a Class IX student, from the Padma River in Bharara union of Sadar upazila.

Police later arrested three people including Naim, who was reportedly in a relationship with Riya, for their alleged involvement in the killing. During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to raping and killing the girl.

Riya was laid to rest at her family graveyard on June 4. Following the burial, an agitated crowd set fire to the houses of the three accused, said Tariqul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station.

During the blaze, gas cylinders inside the houses exploded, leaving several people in the surrounding area injured. No members of the accused families were present in the houses at the time of the fire.

All those injured were neighbours, local residents and curious onlookers who had gathered at the scene.
The injured were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surger where three of them died on Monday night and Tuesday morning, said the OC.