Family awaits justice, police autopsy report
While police are waiting for the autopsy report of Rebeka Sultana Poly, 13, whose hanging body was recovered from her residence on Wednesday in port city’s Madhyam Halishahar area, her family is demanding justice saying that she was raped and murdered.
Though family members are accusing the landlord, Abul Kashem (AK) Khan, police said they have not found any “significant information”, despite quizzing him during a two-day remand.
Poly’s family filed a murder case against AK Khan with Bandar Police Station on Thursday. He was arrested the same day from his residence.
Yesterday, family members, locals, students and rights activists formed a human chain in front of Chattogram Press Club in the afternoon, demanding justice for Poly.
Poly’s brother, Rasel Rana, a student of Govt Mohsin College, told The Daily Star, “During filing the case against the landlord for killing my sister, Sub-inspector Abdullah Al Mamun of Bandar Police Station offered my mother Tk 14 lakh to settle the matter, mentioning that Poly died by suicide. He also requested us not to file the case, but we refused.”
“There are enough evidence that show my sister was murdered and then hanged,” he further alleged.
Poly’s mother tried her best to address the human chain but could not. She kept breaking down in tears.
Contacted, Hamidul Alam, deputy commissioner (Bandar) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, said, “Police are investigating the incident, taking all the factors into consideration. We are waiting for the autopsy report to confirm how she died.”
“Following the family’s allegations that the landlord raped the girl and later hanged the body from the ceiling, police arrested him. But no significant information was gleaned from him during the remand,” the DC said.
He did not elaborate further for the sake of investigation. He, however, said they will put the landlord on remand again after the autopsy report, if needed.
Regarding the allegation of offering money to settle the case, DC Alam said, “After hearing about that I went to meet Poly’s mother along with the said official on Saturday and yesterday to verify the allegations.”
“But the mother said a person in civilian clothes, who was present on Wednesday while police were recovering the body, offered her the money. She could not identify him.”
Mentionable, SI Mamun was also present when the body was recovered. Despite repeated attempts, he could not be contacted yesterday.
“We are looking into the matter and speaking to locals and other officials about it,” the DC assured.
The deceased -- Poly, daughter of Firoj Khan from Khagrachhari -- was a sixth grader of Halishahar Ahmed Miah City Corporation Girls’ High School. She lived with her mother, an apparel worker, and elder brother on the ground floor of AK Khan Tower in the area.
On the day, Poly’s brother found the door of their home locked from inside after coming back from a tuition class.
He broke it open and found her hanging from the ceiling. No one was home at that time, he said.
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