Prime accused confesses to killing child in Lalmonirhat

The prime accused has confessed before a court that he killed a seven-year-old child in Lalmonirhat over a family dispute – an incident that prompted mob attacks on police on Tuesday.

Bidhan Chandra, 22, confessed to killing Nandini, 7, Lalmonirhat Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Wednesday, confirmed Lalmonirhat Police Superintendent Asaduzzaman.

A furore erupted over farm irrigation between Bidhan’s and Nandini’s families two months ago, and a village arbitration was also held in the Falimari village of Bholabari union, Aditmari upazila.

However, the disgruntled Bidhan ultimately decided to kill Nandini out of vengeance, and his parents helped bury the body in a nearby corn field.

After the dead body was found and the suspect was identified on Tuesday, a group of agitated people attacked the vehicles of deputy commissioner, police superintendent and a UNO in Lalmonirhat on Tuesday, to snatch Bidhan from police custody, and ensure “justice” against him.

The incident left at least seven government vehicles vandalised and 30 people injured, including the district police superintendent and an officer-in-charge of the local police station.

Nandini went missing on Monday afternoon, and her family and locals could not locate her until Tuesday morning.

Villagers noticed freshly disrupted soil in a corn field near Nandini’s home, and suspected foul play. They dug up the site to find Nandini’s body in a sack.

Upon being informed, police sent the body to the morgue at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

Later, a local claimed he saw one named Bidhan Chandra Rai, 22, returning from the same corn field with a spade on Monday evening. Locals later claimed Bidhan, who police said was a fraternal uncle of the victim, had locked himself inside his house to avoid suspicions.

As suspicions grew, the agitated locals broke into the house and confined Bidhan on Tuesday noon.

Upon being alerted of the impending mob justice, a police patrol team reached the spot and took Bidhan and his father, Ranajit Kumar, under custody.

But the agitated mob was unwilling to give up Bidhan and confined the police team itself inside the house, demanding they leave “justice to the people.”

A strong police force with personnel from Sadar Police Station, Kaliganj Police Station, district’s detective branch (DB), as well as a BGB team went to the house to rescue the besieged police and pacify the angry crowd.

The local upazila nirbahi officer, BGB 15 Battalion Chief Lt Col Mehedi Imam, Deputy Commissioner Rashedul Haque, and Police Superintendent Asaduzzaman Asad were in the team.

Two units of fire service were also deployed to contain a fire at the house set by the people.

Tensions continued for three hours and the people were uncompromising. Later, police fired three rounds of sound grenades to disperse the crowd and leave the area.

People initially cleared the way, but later attacked the convoy of government and police vehicles with brick chips and sticks, vandalising at least seven key vehicles.

Police Superintendent Asaduzzaman Asad said that tensions ebbed subsequently, but noted that the police were monitoring the situation closely.