The investigating officer says evidence and eyewitness testimony prove Sohel raped and killed the 8-year-old

TDS Desk

Sohel Rana, the prime accused in the Ramisa rape and murder case, spread false information about a third person’s involvement in an attempt to mislead the public and delay the trial, police said today.

While being escorted to the courtroom, Sohel denied full responsibility and claimed that a man named “Dollar” was responsible for the rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl.

Sub-Inspector Md Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station, who is also the investigating officer (IO) of the case, told this correspondentthe evidence and eyewitness testimonies have proven that Sohel raped and killed Ramisa and no third party was involved.

“The accused is intentionally mentioning various names to cover up his crimes, mislead the investigation, obstruct the judicial process, and spread rumours among the public,” he said.

“While he was attempting to dismember the child’s body to conceal the crime, neighbours arrived, forcing him to flee by breaking a window. His wife took no action to stop the crimes and helped him escape, making her equally culpable,” he added.

Ramisa’s father, Abdul Hannan Mollah, also said Sohel staged the drama on the court premises to save himself.

“He wanted to prolong the trial process by spreading false information. After arrest, his wife also said that only she and Sohel were inside the room during the brutal murder,” he said.

“We want justice as soon as possible,” Hannan said, from his bed at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Earlier in the day, Sohel shouted on the court premises: “I did not commit the rape; I only dismembered the body. A man named Dollar committed the rape. I have sinned, so punish me for that sin.” Sohel made the claim while being escorted to the courtroom of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal.

At that time, Sohel further claimed that Dollar had promised to pay him Tk 2 lakh if he brought the girl to him.

Sohel also claimed that his wife, Swapna Khatun, was innocent.

In the morning, Sohel and Swapna were brought to the lock-up of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court in Dhaka.

Later, Judge Masrur Salekin of Children Violence Suppression Tribunal framed charges against the couple in the case over the rape and murder of Ramisa in Dhaka’s Pallabi area.

Both accused pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out, said Bench Assistant Pankoj Peter Gomes.

Ramisa, a second-grade student of Popular Model High School, was found beheaded on May 19 in the house of her neighbour, Sohel.