The probe into the rape and murder of Beauty Akhter took a dramatic turn as the Habiganj police chief yesterday said key accused Babul Mia was not the killer. Instead, her father Sayed Ali, uncle Moyna Mia and a hired killer were involved in the murder.

The murder took place in presence of Beauty's father, Superintendent of Police Bidhan Tripura said, adding that the hired killer pinned her down, while Moyna hacked her to death with a knife.

After Babul was arrested, he confessed to the abduction and rape of Beauty, but denied the allegation of murder.

On suspicion, police detained Sayed Ali and Moyna Mia on Thursday. However, the hired killer has not yet been found, officials said.

Addressing a press briefing yesterday evening, the SP said Moyna gave a confessional statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on Friday in presence of Habiganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Towhidul Islam.

Moyna admitted being involved in the murder, and gave a few other names which could not be disclosed for the sake of investigation.

In his statement, Moyna said how the murder took place and who were involved.

Beauty's father had planned to kill her, worried about her prospects of marriage after the incident of kidnap and rape, said Shamsur Rahman Bhuiyan, additional superintendent of police and also the head of a three-member probe committee formed over the case. 

Moyna took the opportunity to take revenge against Babul, as his wife was defeated by Babul's mother in last year's union parishad election. 

The incident of murder came to light when a photograph of Beauty lying dead on a field went viral on Facebook. Many blamed the police for failing to prevent the murder, especially after a rape case was filed against Babul earlier, the official added.

Beauty's father had filed an abduction and rape case against Babul and his mother at the district's Woman and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on March 1.

According to case details, Beauty was abducted by Babul and his accomplices on January 21. Babul then raped her numerous times, holding her hostage in unknown places for a month. The case was filed after Beauty was let go.

On March 16, Beauty was reportedly abducted again and raped before being murdered. On March 18, her father filed the murder case accusing Babul and several others at Shayestaganj Police Station.

Babul was arrested on March 31 from Beanibazar area of Sylhet by a joint team of Rapid Action Battalion and police, said Additional Superintendent of Police Maniruzzaman, senior assistant director (Media) of Rab-9.