Three boys were found dead at an imam’s room adjacent to a mosque in Motlab upazila of Chandpur today, police said.

The deceased were identified as Abdullah Al Noman, 6, son of Maulana Jamal Uddin, imam of East Kaladi Jame Mosque, and Ibrahim, 10, and Rifat Hossain, 8, who were students of Motlab Dakshin Bhangapar madrasa.

Quoting the imam, Zihadul Kabir, superintendent of police in Chandpur, said that Maulana Jamal saw Ibrahim and Rifat entering his room while leaving his six-year-old son at the room around 12:00pm just before Jumma prayers.

After the prayers, Maulana Jamal returned and found the door of his room locked from inside, the SP said.

Later, locals broke into the room and saw the children were lying on the floor.

Nothing could be said before autopsy, SP Zihadul said.

Police are interrogating the imam, said Swapan Kumar Aich, officer-in-charge of Motlab Dakshin Police Station.