RANGPUR, Jan 11, 2022 (BSS) - A court today sentenced two youths to life term rigorous imprisonment until death for abducting and murdering a minor girl in Pirgachha upazila here eight years ago.

   Judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 of Rangpur Md. Rokonuzzaman handed down the sentence in presence of one of the convicts.

   The court also fined each of convicts Taka one lakh and acquitted five other accused as the charges brought against them were not proved.

   The convicts are Salahuddin, son of Abdur Rahim and Rassel Mian, son of Abul Kalam of village Tambulpur Poran in Pirgachha upazial of Rangpur district.

   Russel Mian was present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced while the court issued a warrant of arrest against Salahuddin as he has been absconding since getting bail in the case.

   Prosecution said convicts Salahuddin and Russell abducted Rhea, 7, daughter of Abdur Rahim of the same village, alluring her to feed mango juice on December 24, 2013.

   Later, the abductors called Rhea's father and relatives on their mobile phones and demanded a ransom of Taka four lakh for her release.

   They feed Riya with sleeping pills mixed with mango juice after abducting her.

   At one stage, the abductors strangled Rhea and dumped her body into a septic tank near the house of Russel.

   Police arrested Russell on the basis of call lists in his mobile phone set.

   After the name of his accomplice Salahuddin came out during the interrogation, the police also arrested him.

   As per confessions of the two arrested youths, the body was recovered from the septic tank 25 days after her abduction.

   The victim's father Abdur Rahim filed a case in this connection with Pirgachha police station.

   After conducting an investigation, police filed charges against seven people, including Russell and Salahuddin.

   After examining 14 witnesses, the court found Salahuddin and Russell guilty and announced the verdicts against them and acquitted the other five accused in the case.