Police recover missing child Muntaha’s body, detain house tutor, 2 others in connection with murder
Kanaighat police station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Awal confirmed that the body was retrieved from the pond near her house around 4am
The body of six-year-old Muntaha, who went missing from her house on 3 November, was recovered from a pond in Sylhet's Kanaighat upazila early today, said police.
Muntaha Aktar Jerin was daughter of Shamim Ahmed of Bharafoud village under Birdal union of Kanaighat upazila.
Kanaighat police station's Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Awal confirmed that the body was retrieved from the pond near her house around 4am.
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There were marks of injuries in the body and her throat was tied with ropes, he said, suspecting the body was thrown into the pond after she had been murdered.
Meanwhile, Muntaha's house tutor, Shumi Akhter, and two other people have been detained by police in connection with the murder.
Although their identities could not be known, police said they live near Muntaha's house.
"We detained Muntaha's house tutor last night on suspicion. She was talking inconsistently, which prompted us to tell Muntaha's family to keep a watch on the house tutor's residence," Awal said.
"At dawn, Muntaha's family members saw that the house tutor's mother excavated the girl's body from a nearby stream and dropped it in a pond. On information, police immediately reached the spot, recovered the body and detained the tutor's mother and daughter," Awal added.
The OC further said the house tutor and her mother have confessed about the murder and the reason for the killing is currently being investigated.
Shamim Ahmed, father of Muntaha, confirmed the matter, saying the body is currently at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for autopsy.
In a general diary lodged by the father at the police station he alleged that Muntaha was abducted in a planned way.
Muntaha had been missing since 3 November, the day she went out in the afternoon to play with other children. Despite searches throughout the area family members failed to trace her.
The family also took to the social media seeking public help to find the girl. They announced a reward of Tk100,000 for anyone who finds her.
