Ruppur project worker kidnapped and demanded ransom, body found after 6 days

The kidnappers abducted Siraj Fakir (65), a worker of Rooppur project in Ishwardi, Pabna and demanded a ransom of Tk 10 lakh. Finally after six days his body was recovered by the police.

On Saturday (August 31) afternoon, his body was recovered with his hands and feet tied from the bathroom of a three-storey house in Rahimpur area of ​​Ishwardi town.

The deceased Siraj Fakir is the son of deceased Jalil Fakir of Kaikunda village of Lakshikunda union of upazila. He was working as a laborer in a company at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ishwardi Police Station. Rafiqul Islam confirmed the recovery of the body and said, "The body has been recovered and sent to Pabna General Hospital for autopsy." If complaints are received, action will be taken after investigation.

Locals said that the deceased Siraj Fakir used to go to work in Rooppur project regularly from his village home. His wife died seven or eight years ago. A few days ago he went on duty at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and did not return home. In this incident, a general diary (GD) was made by the family on August 26 at Ishwardi police station.

Russell Rana, brother-in-law of the deceased said that Siraj Fakir has two sons. After the disappearance, unknown persons were demanding a ransom of Tk 10 lakh from Siraj Fakir's younger son on his mobile phone. Since then, the family members have not found any trace of him.

Al-Amin Hossain, the son of the deceased, said that on August 24, my father disappeared on the way to Ishwardi city after working from Rooppur project. On the same day, at around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, someone called my father and told me that your father is detained by us. You will not benefit from talking to RAB-Police. 10 lakhs to be paid by the evening of August 26. Otherwise your father will be killed. On the night of August 26, I made a GD at Ishwardi police station. Then I tried to contact my father's number. But I didn't get it. On Saturday afternoon, I came to know that my father's body was found at Shariful Islam Bulbul's house in Rahimpur.

The owner of the house, Shariful Islam Bulbul, said that on August 22, Shahjahan Ali (28), son of Ajibur Rahman of Baraichra village of the upazila, and his wife, rented a flat on the fourth floor of my house. They moved out of the house on August 27 after paying one month's rent. The flat was locked since then. I informed the police on Saturday morning if the rotten smell was emanating from this four-storey flat for the last two days. Police reached the spot and recovered the half-decomposed body of Siraj Fakir.

Meanwhile, the residents of Rahimpur area said that Siraj Fakir moved to Shariful Islam Bulbul's rented house in that area on August 23 as a tenant. At that time, two men and women started living in that house with the identity of 'grandson and grandson's wife'. Siraj Fakir also lived with him. However, the alleged grandson of Siraj Fakir has not been found since the body was recovered.

Biplab Kumar Goswami, Additional Superintendent of Police of Ishwardi Circle said, "As soon as I heard about the incident, the policemen came along with me. Preliminary investigation work is ongoing. It is initially believed to be a planned murder. I will know more details after the investigation.