More than 7 involved

More than seven people were involved in the killing of the four children at Sundartiki of Bahubal in Habiganj, said accused Jewel Mia in his confessional statement before a magistrate yesterday.

“On Friday Rubel Mia had said seven people took part in the killing mission, but Jewel Mia named some other people too. We will not reveal their names now,” said Jaydev Bhadra, superintendent of police of Habiganj, in a press briefing at his office yesterday evening.  

Jewel's description of the murder was the same as of his cousin Rubel, he said, adding that Jewel made the statement on day four of his 10 day remand.

Both the accused in their statements said they knocked the children out, strangled them, and buried their bodies in the sand.

Police had arrested Jewel Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, police produced another accused Saleh Ahmed, arrested on Saturday, before the court and sought 10 days of remand.

The court set today for the hearing on the remand prayer.

Bachchu Mia, another accused, of the same village is traceless. His family claims that plainclothes men, who arrived on a motorbike, picked up the CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver from his home five days ago.

Bachchu's wife Rina Akther said two men in plainclothes "picked up my husband showing police identity cards".  Law enforcers outright rejected the allegation yesterday.

However, Bachchu's mother Elai and Rina demanded capital punishment for the killers of the four children.

Mosharraf Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bahubal Police Station, said they had no idea where Bachchu was.

According to police, Bachchu was one of the planners of the murder. His name also came up in the confessional statements of Rubel and another arrestee Arju.

Bodies of the children -- Monir Miah, 7, Zakaria Shuvo, 8, Mohammad Tajel Mia, 10, and Ismail Miah, 10 -- were recovered from a sand pile on Wednesday, five days after they had gone missing from a playground in their village.