Four to walk gallows for killing two minor boys

Four people were awarded death penalty yesterday for killing two minor boys in Netrakona and Barguna districts.

A Netrakona court sentenced three people to death for killing a minor schoolboy after abduction in 2014, reports UNB.

The convicts are Shamim Khan, 20, son of Kanchan Khan, Sohag, 20, son of Abul Kashem of Kendua upazila, and Sharifuzzaman alias Humayun, 20, son of Sultu Mia of Rajibpur upazila in the district. Of them, Sharifuzzaman was tried in absentia.

Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge AKM Abul Kashem also fined them Tk 50,000 each. In default, they are to suffer another one year in jail.

According to the prosecution, Shukkur Ali, 12, a Class V student of Chitua Nouapara Government Primary School, and son of Faruk Bhuiyan, went missing on June 9, 2014.

The following day, the kidnappers demanded Tk 6 lakh as ransom from the family over cellphone. The victim's father filed a case with Kendua Police Station on June 30.

 Failing to realise the ransom, the abductors killed Shukkur Ali and dumped the body in a river.

After tracking the mobile phone of the kidnappers, police arrested the three convicts.

Following their confessional statement, police recovered the decomposed body of Shukkur Ali on July 1.

Police submitted charge sheet against them on August 5 the same year.

After examining evidence and witnesses, the judge found the trio guilty and pronounced the verdict.

In Barguna, a court awarded a man capital punishment for killing a 11-year-old schoolboy in 2015, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.

The death penalty awardee is fisherman Miraj, a resident of Choto Amkhola village under Taltali upazila of the district.

The court also asked him to pay Tk 20 lakh to the victim's family as compensation, said Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Md Akhtaruzzaman Bahadur.

The compensation money will be realised from assets of Miraj's family members including his father, he said.

On August 4 last year, Rabiul Awal, son of Dulal Mridha of the village, and a Class IV student of Farajeebari Dakhil Madrasa in the area, was beaten to death for his alleged involvement in stealing fish from a net that was kept in a canal.

Following a case filed by the victim's father, Talali police arrested Miraj the following day. On August 23, police submitted a charge sheet, accusing the convict.

After examining witnesses and records, Barguna Additional District and Sessions Judge Md Abu Taher found Miraj guilty and gave the verdict.