Fire breaks out at house of accused in rape-murder of teenage girl, 3 killed

Three people undergoing treatment for burns after a mob set fire to the house of the accused in the rape and murder of Riya Khatun (15) in Pabna Sadar Upazila have died

Two people undergoing treatment at the hospital died on Tuesday (June 9) morning. Earlier, on Monday (June 8) afternoon, another person died while undergoing treatment at the same hospital. This brings the total number of deaths in the incident to three.

The deceased are Sumon Sheikh, son of Tajir Uddin Sheikh of Purba Raghabpur area of ​​Bhandara union in Sadar upazila, Saiful Islam Sabbir, son of Shakur Hossain of the neighboring Notunpara area, and Sapu, son of the deceased Yusuf of the same area.

Police and local sources said that the body of a teenage girl was recovered from the Padma river in Bhandara area of ​​Pabna on the afternoon of June 3. The body was buried the next day on June 4.

After the burial, a section of the locals got angry and set fire to the house of the accused. At that time, a gas cylinder in the house exploded, injuring several people nearby.

The injured were rescued and rushed to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Three of them died while undergoing treatment.

It is learnt that none of the accused were present at the house at the time of the incident. Police said that all the injured were neighbours and local onlookers.

Tension prevailed in the area after the incident and the law and order situation is under control, sources said.