The body of six-year-old Muntaha, who went missing from her home on November 3, was recovered early today from a pond in Sylhet’s Kanaighat upazila, police said.

Muntaha Aktar Jerin was the daughter of Shamim Ahmed of Bharafoud village under Birdal union of Kanaighat upazila.

Kanaighat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mr Abdul Awal confirmed that the body was retrieved from the pond near her house around 4am.

There were marks of injuries on the body and her neck was tied with ropes, he said, suspecting that the body was dumped in the pond after she was killed.

Meanwhile, Muntaha’s home teacher Shumi Akhter and two others have been detained by the police in connection with the murder.

Although their identity could not be known, police said they live near Muntaha’s house.

“We detained Muntaha’s guardian last night on suspicion. She was speaking incoherently, which prompted us to tell Muntaha’s family to monitor the guardian’s residence,” Awal said.

“At dawn, Muntaha’s family members saw that the house guardian’s mother had excavated the girl’s body from a nearby stream and dumped it in a pond. On information, the police immediately reached the spot, recovered the body and detained the mother and the guardian’s daughter”, Awal. added.

The OC also said that the guardian of the house and her mother have confessed about the murder and the motive of the murder is currently being investigated.

Shamim Ahmed, Muntaha’s father, confirmed the situation, saying that the body is currently at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

In a general diary filed by the father at the police station, he claimed that Muntaha was abducted in a planned manner.

Muntaha had been missing since November 3, the day she went out in the afternoon to play with other children. Despite searching the area, family members were unable to trace her.

The family also took to social media to seek public help in finding the girl. They have announced a reward of Tk 100,000 for anyone who finds her.