A housewife was raped and strangled and two minor girls were raped as police arrested three alleged rapists in Pabna, Jessore and Barisal districts.

Aleya Khatun, 43, wife of Ardosh Ali Mollik of Paikarhati village of Santhia upazila, went missing on November 1 after she had gone out to collect firewood, reports our correspondent in Pabna.

Police on Tuesday arrested her brother-in-law Tutul Mollik in this connection. During primary interrogation, Tutul confessed to killing her after rape. Following his confession, the law enforcers recovered her body from Kumirbil area in the afternoon, said the officer-in-charge of Santhia police.

Her body was sent to Pabna Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy yesterday.

Victim's daughter Shabana Khatun filed a case with Santhia police.

In Jessore, a youth on Tuesday raped a girl of third grade at Boro Mandartola village in Sharsha upazila, writes our Benapole correspondent.

The law enforcers arrested alleged rapist Shukur Ali, 20, son of Ibrahim Ali of the same village, said OC Moshiur Rahman of Sharsha   police.

The OC said the 10-year-old schoolgirl was returning home from a neighbour's house around 9:00pm when Shukur allegedly waylaid and raped her.

Hearing her screams, locals rushed to the spot, rescued the victim and sent her to Jessore Medical College Hospital. Her condition was stated to be critical, family sources said.

In another drive, Wazirpur police yesterday arrested a youth on charge of raping his 10-year-old cousin at Gabbari village under Barakotha union on Tuesday, reports our Barisal correspondent.

OC Golam Sarwar of Wazirpur police said they arrested Naim Shikder, 18, at his house for allegedly raping the girl.

Family members rushed the girl to Wazirpur Upazila Health Complex where doctors referred her to Barisal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital. She was shifted to the hospital in a critical condition, the OC told reporters.

The victim's father filed a case with Wazirpur police.