Two-yr-old boy stolen for ransom found murdered

The body of a two-year-old boy, who was stolen from their house seven days ago, was found in Boubazar area under Galachipa upazila of the district yesterday.

The victim is Habibur Rahman, son of Kanchon Ali Sarder of Chander Howla village in the upazila.

Police also arrested three people in connection with the incident, said Abdur Razzak Mollah, officer-in-charge of Galachipa Police Station.

The arrestees are Belal Hossain and Sona Mia, stepbrothers of the deceased, and Masud Sarder, 30, of the village.

Police said Masud demanded Tk one crore from Kanchon Ali for his son's release over cellphone.

After tracking phone calls, police arrested the three early yesterday. Following their confessional statement, the law enforcers recovered the body from a canal in the area around 3:30pm. 

On March 12, a gang demanded Tk 1 crore as ransom from the family after stealing the boy from their home in Galachipa upazila.

The parents alleged that the child was kidnapped by his stepbrothers over property-related feud. The brothers, however, rejected the allegation.

The boy was picked up from their home in the early hours of March 10, said the victim's mother Jainab Begum.

“I along with my husband and son was asleep on the same bed. Around 2:00am, I suddenly woke up hearing my son's screams.”

“It was quite dark at that time. Before we could realise anything I saw two masked men taking my son away through the door,” Jainab said, adding that they disappeared immediately.

Later, Kanchon filed a case with the police station against his sons Belal Hossain and Sona Mia for their alleged involvement in the crime.