7-year-old found dead at Lakshmipur madrasa

Police yesterday evening recovered the body of a 7-year-old boy from a madrasa in the Uttar Temuhuni area of Lakshmipur.

Sanim Hossain was a student at Al-Mu'in Islami Academy.

Family members and police said the boy was tortured earlier in the day and there were injury marks on his neck and other parts of the body.

Family members allege that Sanim died after being beaten up by his teacher Mahmudur Rahman. They added that madrasa authorities tried to establish that the boy hanged himself in a toilet.

Abdul Manna, officer-in-charge Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station, said the body was found in a room.

Sanim was the son of grocery store owner Humayun Matobbar and Johura Begum. They live in Raipur upazila.

Sanim's relative Bakshi Mohammad Shahid Hossain said, "A few days ago, the madrasa informed us that Sanim wasn't obeying his teacher Mahmudur Rahman. The teacher seemed angry about it. Now we are told that Sanim had hanged himself in a toilet. But when we went there, we found his body not in the toilet but on a bed in a room on the madrasa's ground floor. He was killed. We want justice."

Several of Sanim's classmates confirmed that he had been beaten by the teacher that morning, though they couldn't say what exactly happened at the time of his death.

Additional Superintendent of Police Rezaul Haque said, "After receiving the report of the suicide, I visited the spot. The child was beaten earlier in the day. He had been subjected to psychological abuse and threats. There were black marks on his neck and other parts of the body. We have detained one person for questioning. The actual cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy. A case is being prepared."

Principal Maulana Bashir Ahmed said, "After class, the students were given a break for prayers and lunch. CCTV footage shows Sanim entering the toilet with a towel. That's where the body was found."

Police have detained Mahmudur Rahman for questioning.

The body was sent to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.