Imon arrested in Kushtia for stabbing schoolgirl Zakia after she protested harassment

Police have arrested Imon, the accused in the stabbing of a schoolgirl named Zakia Sultana (16) in Thanapara area of Kushtia town. He was arrested from his maternal uncle's house in Patikabari area of Kushtia Sadar upazila at around 1 a.m. on Tuesday (November 10).

The arrest was confirmed to Dhaka Post by Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kushtia Model Police Station.

The arrested Imon is the son of Abbas Uddin of East Majampur area of Kushtia town.

Police said Imon had been on the run since the incident. Several police teams were conducting raids in different places to arrest him. Acting on secret information, police raided his uncle's house in Patikabari at around 1 a.m. on Tuesday and arrested him.

On the matter, Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kushtia Model Police Station, said Imon, the accused in the stabbing of the schoolgirl in the town, was arrested in a joint operation by Kushtia Model Police Station and the Patikabari police camp from his uncle's house in Patikabari area. He is being brought to the police station.

It may be mentioned that Imon was accused of stabbing Zakia in front of her house near the Crescent Club in Thanapara area on Monday (November 9) afternoon, after she protested against harassment. Locals rescued her in a seriously injured condition and admitted her to the 250-bed Kushtia General Hospital. She is currently undergoing treatment there.

According to police, family and local sources, Zakia returned home on Monday after finishing the selection examination for the SSC examination. While she was standing in front of her house waiting for the gate to open, Imon came from behind and stabbed her repeatedly with a sharp knife. Hearing Zakia's screams, locals rushed in, and the accused fled, dropping the knife.

The family alleges that Imon had been harassing Zakia in various ways for a long time. When the matter was brought to the attention of his family members, he stopped bothering her for a while.

In this incident, police collected CCTV footage from around the scene and identified the attacker. Law enforcement then launched an operation to arrest him.

Police said the arrested Imon is being interrogated at the police station. Legal proceedings in this case are under way.