RANGPUR, April 13, 2023 (BSS) – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13 has arrested a father-in-law and a sister-in-law from Mymensingh in the sensational murder case of burning a daughter-in-law by pouring kerosene on her body in Rangpur city.

“They were arrested from Phulbari police station area in Mymensingh district on Wednesday,” said a press release issued today by Senior Assistant Director (Media) of RAB-13 Flight Lieutenant Mahmud Bashir Ahmed.  

The detainees are father-in-law Md. Akhter Mian, 55, of Nachchnia area and sister-in-law Most Aleya Begum, 32, of Khasbag area under Mahiganj police station of Rangpur city.

Victim Salma Begum, 23, of the same area married Swapan Mian, son of prime accused Akhter Mian, following a love affair four years ago.

After her marriage, her in-laws started torturing her in various ways for dowry.

Victim Salma took a loan of Taka 50,000 from an NGO when her sister-in-law Aleya Begum took Taka 10,000 from Salma as a loan.

When the victim asked for return of the loan, Aleya and other accused tortured her on March 24 last in front of her husband Swapan Mian and demanded dowry money instead.   

As the victim’s husband continued to protest the incident, Akhter Mian and other accused entered the victim's room and started beating her mercilessly on March 28 last.

“At one stage, they poured kerosene on the victim’s body, set her on fire and left the house after blocking the door of the room from outside. When her husband tried to put out the fire, he himself got burnt,” the release said.

Locals came forward to put out the fire, rescued the couple and admitted them to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Later, critically burnt Salma with 70 percent body-burn was sent to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at Dhaka where she died on March 31.

The victim's mother filed a case in this connection with Mahiganj police station of Rangpur Metropolitan Police on March 28.

Alongside police, RAB-13 started intelligence monitoring of the sensational incident.

“On a tip off, RAB-13 jointly with Crime Prevention Specialized Company of RAB-14, Mymensingh conducted a raid at Phulbari police station area in Mymensingh and arrested the two accused on Wednesday,” the release said.

During preliminary interrogation, the arrested accused admitted that they had premeditatedly poured kerosene on the victim and set her on fire.

“The elite force handed over the detainees to Mahiganj police station today,” the release said, adding that efforts are on to nab the other absconding accused.