Villagers in Kulunia, located under Dogachi Union in Pabna Sadar Upazila, gathered after Friday prayers to attack the suspect’s property. Tensions had been simmering in the village since the young schoolgirl’s body was discovered earlier in the week.

Eyewitnesses reported that grief and fury had gripped the community following the gruesome murder of the Year 3 primary school pupil. Shortly after afternoon prayers concluded, a large crowd marched towards Mostafa Pramanik’s house, breaching the premises and causing extensive damage. Local residents expressed severe outrage over the crime, demanding a swift police investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tarikul Islam confirmed the incident, explaining that officers were already stationed in the area to maintain order. However, the initial police detail was vastly outnumbered by the swelling crowd, rendering them temporarily unable to prevent the vandalism. Reinforcements were quickly dispatched to the scene, successfully restoring order and dispersing the crowd.

The victim had gone missing on the evening of 9 September after stepping out of her family residence. When frantic searches by relatives yielded no clues regarding her whereabouts, the family lodged a formal general diary with the local police station.

Her body was discovered seven days later, on Wednesday morning, packed inside a sack floating in a ditch near her home in Kulunia. Following the recovery, police launched a targeted operation and arrested the girl’s neighbour, Mostafa Pramanik, alongside his tenant, Yasin.

During a press conference on Thursday, Pabna Superintendent of Police Abu Ashraf revealed horrifying details from the preliminary investigation. The suspects lured the young girl into a room behind Mostafa Pramanik’s grocery shop on the evening of her disappearance. Investigators confirmed that the child was subjected to sexual assault inside the room before being murdered, after which her body was concealed in the nearby marsh. Police assured the public that formal charges are being finalized as the investigation continues.