A 16 year old sister-in-law confessed murder of 5 year old girl by strangling and dumping in water tank in Dhaka over a plastic doll and flowers.
Police recovered the body of five-year-old girl Arifa from a water tank at a house in Kuril’s Mridha Bari area in Dhaka on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations indicate that her sister-in-law, Khadija Akter, 16, killed the child by strangulation and disposed of the body in the tank out of longstanding resentment. Vatara Police Sub-Inspector Maudud Kamal confirmed the incident.
Arifa’s body is scheduled for post-mortem at Dhaka Medical College morgue on Thursday afternoon.
Khadija Akter, who was arrested in connection with the murder, has been sent to court.
Arifa was the youngest of three siblings in the family of Rajib and Habeza Begum from Sidulkura village in Damudya, Shariatpur.
The family resides in a rented house in Kuril’s Mridha Bari area under Vatara Police Station. The girl had recently been enrolled in a local school.
Sub-Inspector Maudud Kamal said the family lives with Rajib and Habeza’s two sons, one daughter, and the elder son’s wife.
“Arifa’s body was discovered around noon on Wednesday from the water tank outside the house. There were ligature marks on her neck and swelling on her lips” he added.
According to SI Kamal investigation, Khadija could not tolerate Arifa’s presence. On the night before the incident, Arifa’s brother Hasan had brought a plastic doll and flowers for the girl, which led to an argument between Hasan and Khadija.
On Wednesday morning, when the rest of the family left for work, Arifa was left alone. Khadija allegedly strangled her for three to four minutes inside a room. After the child became unresponsive, Khadija carried the body and placed it in the water tank.
Arifa’s mother returned home around midday and began searching for her daughter.
SI Kamal added, CCTV footage showed Arifa did not leave the house, raising suspicions. A thorough search of the premises led the family to the water tank, where Khadija was confronted. She admitted the murder on the spot.
Khadija was taken into police custody immediately and has confessed to the crime.
A murder case has been filed by the family. Investigators have found no evidence of anyone else’s involvement.
