Police have detained a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw driver, identified as Sumon, from Chattogram on Thursday night in connection with the murder of 15-year-old schoolgirl Jannatul Tazmin in Lalmai upazila of Cumilla.
Following his detention, Sumon reportedly attempted to mislead interrogators, while no mobile phone or National Identity Card (NID) was recovered from his possession at the time.
An official from a law enforcement agency, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed quoting intelligence that Sumon was previously involved in several mugging incidents, though detailed verification of these allegations remains underway.
Recovery of body, initial investigation
On Thursday at around 8am, police recovered Tazmin’s body from a farmland adjacent to the Manumura jungle in Jagatpur Uttarpara under Perul Uttar Union in Lalmai upazila. A gamcha (towel) was wrapped around her neck, leading police to suspect she was killed by strangulation.
Tazmin, a Class VII student at Farida Vidyayatan in Cumilla city, was the daughter of Abdul Alim from the Shatiantala area in Churamankati Union under Jessore Sadar upazila. She lived with her family in a rented residence in the Rescourse area of Cumilla city.
On 4 October, she left home stating she was visiting a friend’s house, but went missing until her body was discovered four days later. Police sources say an extensive investigation is also underway to determine whether rape occurred prior to the murder.
Following an autopsy, the body was handed over to her relatives on Thursday night. On the same night, the victim’s father, Abdul Alim, filed a murder case against unidentified individuals at Lalmai Police Station, although police refrained from detailing how many persons were accused.
Breakthrough and ongoing interrogation
Law enforcement secured a new clue after discovering an abandoned CNG-powered auto-rickshaw near the crime scene. Subsequently, multiple teams from the local police and Detective Branch (DB) conducted drives across Cumilla and neighbouring districts.
By inspecting CCTV footage and examining information prior to and after the murder, investigators succeeded in tracing and detaining Sumon in Chattogram.
Investigators anticipate that Sumon’s interrogation will shed light on crucial unanswered questions, including how Tazmin reached the location, who accompanied her, and the motive behind the crime.
They are also examining his reported past involvement in snatching activities and scrutinising any link to the homicide. However, his direct involvement in the murder cannot be confirmed until the investigation concludes.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Cumilla), Pankaj Barua, stated that the primary mystery surrounding the murder has almost been unravelled, adding that full details are expected to be presented at a press conference on Saturday morning following the completion of remaining investigative work.
Family’s grief, demand for justice
Tazmin’s mother broke down in grief, claiming in a tearful voice that she lost her daughter due to the actions of her female friends, while voicing deep apprehension over whether she would receive fair justice.
Her father, Abdul Alim, who went to the spot and recovered his daughter’s body, demanded exemplary punishment for the killers and urged the authorities to ensure safety for all girls in the country.
The murder investigation has brought renewed attention to the mugging situation at the Paduar Bazar World Road area in Cumilla, where locals allege that snatching syndicates have operated at an alarming rate over the past two years.
According to local complaints, syndicate members roam secluded roads late at night in CNG auto-rickshaws to target lone passengers.
This situation recalls an earlier incident on the morning of 25 April this year, when police recovered the bloody body of Customs official Bullet Bairagi from the pavement beside Irish Hill Hotel in the Kotbari area along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Cumilla.
His body bore severe injury marks on the head and other parts. According to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Bullet Bairagi fell into the trap of an organised mugging gang posing as a driver and passengers in a CNG auto-rickshaw late at night after alighting from a bus.
When he resisted their attempt to snatch his bag, mobile phone, and money, a scuffle ensued, and he was pushed off the moving vehicle, sustaining fatal head injuries.
Investigating law enforcement officials noted that while there is some operational link between the two incidents, the mugging syndicate’s involvement in Tazmin’s murder has not been confirmed yet.
Nonetheless, allegations surrounding CNG-powered auto-rickshaws have raised fresh concerns regarding passenger safety on roads at night.
