Authorities in Manikganj Sadar Upazila have recovered a human head in a grisly development that has shocked the local community. On Sunday morning, police from the Baniajuri Investigation Centre retrieved the severed head from a maize field along the banks of the Kaliganga River in the Dighulia area of Sadar.
Investigators suspect that the head belongs to Rafique Mia, a 27-year-old e-rickshaw driver whose headless body was discovered three days earlier, approximately two kilometres from the site of the latest recovery.
Superintendent of Police Jayita Shilpi of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Manikganj told Prothom Alo that Rafique had been brutally murdered by having his throat slit, after which the perpetrators severed his head and discarded it in the river. “While we strongly suspect the head is Rafique’s, forensic examination is required to confirm this conclusively,” she said.
Arrests and Case Details
Following the recovery of Rafique’s body, PBI officers arrested three suspects in connection with the murder:
| Name | Age | Residence | Role in Incident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Md. Ripon Mia | 30 | Rathura, Ghior | Alleged mastermind, performed beheading |
| Arman Hossain | 20 | Pachbarail, Sadar | Struck victim with hammer |
| Sojib Hossain | 25 | Pachbarail, Sadar | Assisted in restraining victim |
Police and case filings indicate that Rafique was a resident of Rathura village in Ghior Upazila and worked as an e-rickshaw driver. He went missing on Tuesday at around 10 am after leaving home. The following day, his headless body was discovered along the riverbank in Pachbarail, Sadar Upazila.
Sequence of Events
PBI investigators found that the murder was premeditated. Ripon Mia, a construction worker and friend of Rafique, allegedly planned the killing to sell Rafique’s e-rickshaw. On Tuesday evening, under the pretext of smoking cannabis, Ripon, Arman, and Sojib took Rafique to the riverbank. Arman struck Rafique on the head with a hammer, causing him to fall to the ground, after which Ripon severed his head with a machete. During the act, Arman held Rafique’s hands while Sojib restrained his legs. Following the murder, the perpetrators threw the head and body into the river. Although the head sank, the body floated and was later buried in a shallow grave along the riverbank after the abdomen was slit.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Pulok Kumar Das Majumdar of the Baniajuri Investigation Centre said that the head was discovered when a local resident harvesting maize noticed it in the field. “Police recovered the head around 10:30 am. It likely drifted from the river and may have been moved by animals such as dogs or jackals to the maize field,” he explained. The head has been sent to Manikganj Medical College for forensic testing.
This chilling incident has intensified concerns about violent crimes in the region and underscores the ongoing investigation into premeditated murders linked to property and personal disputes. Forensic analysis will play a pivotal role in confirming the victim’s identity and strengthening the case against the accused.
