Police officers in Cox’s Bazar have detained a controversial young man, Raju, in connection with the broader circumstances surrounding the murder of seventh-grade student Jannatul Tazmin in Cumilla. Although preliminary investigations suggest he was not directly involved in the physical killing, authorities apprehended him for enticing a minor and exposing her to severe danger.
The operation took place on Sunday night, 11 October, in the Kolatoli tourist district of Cox’s Bazar. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station, Mohammad Ali, confirmed the detention, noting that Sub-Inspector (SI) Sagar led the police team that apprehended Raju.
A video recording capturing the moment of Raju’s arrest quickly went viral across various social media platforms. The footage showed two plainclothes police officers placing handcuffs on the youth amidst a brief physical scuffle as Raju attempted to resist the officers before being restrained and escorted to a waiting police vehicle.
The case stems from a tragic discovery made on Thursday morning, 8 October, when police recovered the body of seventh-grader Jannatul Tazmin from a paddy field in Jagatpur village, situated within the Lalmai upazila of Cumilla district. The discovery sparked outrage and widespread grief among local residents, prompting law enforcement to launch a multi-pronged investigation into the events leading up to the girl’s death.
Explaining the rationale behind the detention, Sub-Inspector (SI) Ornab, the investigating officer from the Cumilla District Detective Branch (DB), clarified that initial findings do not directly link Raju to the murder itself. However, investigators emphasized that murder enquiries require examining all surrounding factors, including the victim’s recent movements and contacts.
Sub-Inspector Ornab added that enticing an underage girl to travel to Cox’s Bazar and leaving her vulnerable carries distinct legal consequences. Detectives intend to conduct intensive interrogations to establish a complete timeline of events, ascertain why the minor was brought to the resort town, and determine whether other individuals were involved in her demise. Raju is being transferred to DB custody in Cumilla as enquiries continue.
