Staff Correspondent:

Detectives have arrested the prime suspect in the sensational murder of scrap vendor Lalchand alias Md Sohag, who was beaten to death with a concrete boulder in front of Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford) Hospital in Old Dhaka recently.

A team from the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested the suspect from Itbaria area of Patuakhali on Tuesday night, additional superintendent of Patuakhali police Sajedul Islam said on Wednesday morning.

Though the law enforcers have not disclosed the name of the arrestee, a reliable source from the DB said the man was identified through information gleaned from previously arrested suspects and digital technology.

“He was tracked down to a house in Itbaria and taken into custody,” said the source seeking anonymity.

The source also said that the suspect was detected after scrutinising the CCTV footage that he was hurling a stone at Sohag’s body.

To avoid alerting other suspects who are absconding, authorities have withheld the arrestee’s identity.

With this arrest, the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the murder has risen to nine.

Earlier, on July 14, the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested another suspect Md Nannu Kazi, 33, from Bandar area in Narayanganj.

Sohag was killed on July 9 in broad daylight outside the Gate-3 of Mitford Hospital.

People saw the attackers repeatedly striking him with a concrete boulder, exposing a grim picture of brutality.

A massive outcry erupted across the country after a video showing the act of cruelty went viral on social media.

University students, political parties and other social organisations protested the incident demanding immediate arrest of the accused and bringing them to justice.

Meanwhile, BNP has expelled five leaders of Jubo, Swechhasebak and Chhatra Dal for their alleged involvement in the killing.

Sohag’s sister filed a murder case the following day while police filed another case under the Arms Act.