Schoolboy held for ransom found dead at Sylhet cop house

The decomposed body of a minor boy, who was kidnapped on Wednesday, was found in sacks at the house of a policeman at Jharnapar in the city on Saturday night.
The victim was identified as Abu Sayeed, 9, a class-IV student of Shahi Eidgah Hazrat Shahi Mir Govt Primary School and son of Matin Miah. Hailing from Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district, Sayeed used to live with his parents in Rainagar area of the city.
Police arrested accused policeman Ebadur Rahman, constable of Airport Police Station, and two others — general secretary of district Ulema League Abdur Rakib and reported informant of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Geda Miah.
The arrestees confessed to killing the schoolboy, police said.Quoting Ebadur who once used to live with the family of Matin on sublet, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Rahmat Ullah said the policeman with the help of Rakib and Geda Miah kidnapped Sayeed on his way to his school on Wednesday.
Later, they took him to Ebadur’s house in Jharnapar Residential Area and demanded Tk 5 lakh as ransom from his family over phone for his release.
They, however, slashed the amount to Tk 2 lakh but did not say where to pay it. By then Matin approached police and Rab seeking help in this regard.
Rab-9 Company Commander ASP Mainuddin Chowdhury said they detected the location by tracking mobile phones and launched a drive at the house of Ebadur around 10pm on Saturday when the schoolboy’s body was found in seven sacks – one put into another.
During the drive, the law enforcers also arrested Ebadur, Rakib and Geda.
The arrestees were interrogated overnight at the police station when they reportedly confessed to killing the schoolboy.
Quoting Ebadur, the ADC said the kidnappers strangulated Sayeed to death with a rope on Thursday morning as they feared they might fall in danger once the incident comes to light as Sayeed knows Ebadur.
Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said the victim’s father filed a murder case against the arrestees and three other unidentified persons.
Meanwhile, constable Ebadur Rahman made a confessional statement under Section 164 before Judge Shahedul Karim of Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court-1 on Sunday.
The Sayeed’s body was handed over to his family on Sunday after autopsy at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. – Agencies