Teenager arrested over stabbing of schoolgirl in Kushtia

Police have arrested Imon Ali, the teenager accused of stabbing a 16-year-old schoolgirl Jakia Sultana Momo in broad daylight in Kushtia town.

He was arrested during a raid on his maternal uncle's house in the Patikabari area of Kushtia Sadar upazila around 1am on Tuesday.

Officer-in-Charge of Kushtia Model Police Station Zakir Hossain confirmed the arrest, saying a joint team of the police station and Patikabari Police Camp conducted the operation.

Imon, son of Abbas Uddin of Purba Mojompur in Kushtia town, was an SSC candidate this year and a student of the Bangla version at SunUp International School and College. He had reportedly been in hiding since the attack. Police conducted several operations to track him down before locating him following a tip-off.

Jakia, a Class Ten student of Kushtia Mission Secondary School, was stabbed in front of her residence near Crescent Club in the Thanapara area of Kushtia town on Monday.

After sitting for her school's SSC selection examination, she returned home and was standing at the entrance of the building to ring the doorbell when the attacker allegedly approached her from behind and repeatedly stabbed her with a sharp weapon.

Hearing her screams, locals rushed to the scene, prompting the attacker to flee, leaving the weapon behind. Residents rescued the bloodied girl and took her to Kushtia General Hospital.

She is now out of danger but remains under medical treatment.

Family alleges harassment as motive

The victim's family alleged that Imon had been harassing Jakia for a long time. Although the matter was brought to the attention of his family, the harassment reportedly resumed after a brief pause.

The family suspects the attack may have been carried out in retaliation for their complaint to his guardians. However, police have yet to establish the motive.

Police said they identified the alleged attacker after examining CCTV footage from the building. The sharp weapon believed to have been used in the attack has also been recovered.

Following the incident, police conducted extensive operations across the town and detained around 45 teenagers and young men for questioning. Most of them were students of schools, colleges and universities.

They were taken to Kushtia Model Police Station for interrogation and later released to their guardians after signing undertakings following Imon's arrest.

Kushtia Superintendent of Police Aminul Islam said those detained had been found gathering in places considered unsuitable for students, including behind the municipal building, near parks, in dark corners and in narrow lanes.

He urged parents to remain more vigilant about their children's movements and social activities.