<i>'Brutal killing' of a domestic help</i>
A teenage domestic help, allegedly set on fire by younger brother of her employer Wednesday morning, succumbed to burn injuries at 11:55 at night at Khulna Medical College and Hospital.
According to police, she was set on fire by Khurshid Alam alias Rubel at the house of her employer at Arambag under Sonadanga police station in the city.
Khurshid Alam is a student of M A final year class of Chemistry department of Daulatpur Goverment B L College and younger brother of Professor Khairul Alam of Khulna Ahsanullah Degree College.
Police said, Rubel developed an illicit relationship with the girl after she was appointed domestic help about 15 months ago.
Police quoting dying statement of Halima,15, said Rubel sexually exploited her by promising to marry her.
She said Rubel fixed Wednesday for their marriage. But all of a sudden he confined Halima to his bedroom and poured kerosene on her person and set on fire.
Neighbours rushed to the house after they heard the girl's screaming and loud cry for help.
They rescued Halima and admitted her to Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH). Her entire body was badly burnt, police said.
S I Khairul Bashar of Sonadanga police station recorded statement of the girl at 11:30 am as her condition continued to worsen.
Halima breathed her last at 11:55 pm while under treatment in the burn unit of the hospital, police said.
The hapless girl was only daughter of Kashem Dhali and Mariam Bibi of Damodar village under Phultala upazila of Khulna district.
Police picked up professor Khairul Alam and his wife Hosne Ara, a teacher of Alka Government Primary School in Phultala upazila at 8:30 am yesterday and freed them an hour after interrogation.
Sub-inspector Tipu Lal Das lodged FIR as complainant naming Khurshid Alam Rubel as the lone accused. Rubel is absconding, said OC Shahidul Islam.
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