Mob attacks and burns home of rape, murder suspects

Three people who sustained severe burn injuries during an arson attack on the homes of suspects in a rape and murder case in Pabna have died while undergoing treatment, raising the death toll from the incident to three.

The victims died at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, with two deaths reported on Tuesday morning and another on Monday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Suman Sheikh, son of Tajir Uddin Sheikh of Purba Raghobpur village; Saiful Islam Sabbir, son of Shakur Hossain of Notunpara; and Sapu, son of the late Yusuf. All were residents of Pabna Sadar Upazila.

According to police and local sources, the incident stemmed from the rape and murder of a teenage girl whose body was recovered from the Padma River in the Pirpur area under the Bhandara union on June 3. Following her burial the next day, enraged locals allegedly set fire to the homes of the accused.

During the unrest, a gas cylinder exploded, leaving several nearby residents and onlookers with burn injuries. The injured were later taken to different hospitals for treatment. Authorities said no members of the accused families were present at the houses when the fire broke out.

Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tariqul Islam confirmed the three deaths and said legal proceedings related to the incident are underway.

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Police had earlier arrested three suspects, including the victim's alleged boyfriend, Naim, in connection with the case. Investigators said the suspects confessed during interrogation to their involvement in the rape and murder of the teenage girl.