Criminals raped and murdered a college girl at a village in Mathbaria upazila yesterday morning when she was returning home from a relative's house.

The victim was a student of HSC first year of business studies at Shahadat Hossain College.

Police have arrested one Syed Kazi, 41, of Sapleza village in this connection.

Abu Saleh, Union  Parishad member of the village, said the girl was returning home alone from her sister-in-law's house at Dakkhin Sapleza village around 7:30am.

The criminals raped her in a paddy field halfway home and choked her to death, he added.

Walid Hossain, superintendent of police of the district, said, “We have arrested Syed Kazi as the victim's sister saw him near the spot. After interrogation we might be able to learn how many people were involved in the incident.”

The body was sent to Pirojpur Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.