Staff Reporter

The fugitive accused of Purnima Rani Shill’s rape case, who was rewarded with life term imprisonment, has been arrested by Sirajganj’s Ullapara thana police after 25 years of the incident.

Police identified the arrested as Zahurul Islam, 42, son of Zillur Rahman alias Belal Hossain of Purbadelua village in Ullapara upazila of the district.

He was picked up from his resident at Purbadelua village on Friday night, said Rakibul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Ullapara Model Police Station.

It is to be mentioned that, Purnima Rani Shill, the then aged 12, and also student of class eight in local school, was gang raped on October 8 in 2001 amidst a-post election violence. Later, she was left into an arum field by the rapists. Not only that, the culprits vandalized her homesteads and beat her parents mercilessly that became talk of the country at that time.

After the incidents, victim’s father lodged a case with the respective police station. After an investigation police submitted charge sheet to the court accusing 11 persons.

On May 4, 2011, the court sentenced 10 persons to life term imprisonment and acquitted one person as the allegation brought against him could not be probed. The court also fined Tk 1 lakh each of the convicted.

The OC said, Zahurul went to Malaysia after the incident. He returned to the country three to four months ago. He went to meet with his family members and relatives on the date of arrest.

Acting on a tip off, police conducted the drive and arrested him from the mentioned place. The arrestee was sent to Jail on Saturday through a Sirajganj court sat in special arrangement, police said.