Forensic experts say the two Dhaka siblings might have been killed even as their family claimed they had died of food poisoning.
Published : 01 Mar 2016, 02:54 PM
Viqarunnisa Noon School student Ishrat Zahan Oroni,14, and her 6-year-old brother Alvi Aman were declared dead on Monday night by doctors at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
Autopsies were performed on Tuesday morning, when doctors found bruises on their throats.
“We have found bruises and finger prints on the victims’ throats,” DMCH forensic department’s Assistant Professor Md Sohel Mahmud told bdnews24.com.
He said injury marks were found on several areas of the bodies, including the chins. “We are awaiting a viscera report. But, we suspect they have been murdered.”
Speaking to reporters earlier on Tuesday, forensic doctor Pradip Biswas said that the deaths were due to "lack of oxygen”.
“Bruises have been found on the throats and they appear to have bitten their tongues,” he said.
Biswas added they collected food found in the children’s stomach for viscera test as the relatives said the two died of food poisoning.
Around 8pm on Monday, the unconscious siblings were rushed to the DMCH, where the doctors declared them dead.
Their aunt Afroza Mila had then told reporters at the hospital that the siblings had eaten food from a restaurant at the Dhaka’s Rampura on Sunday night.
They took the leftovers home and ate them on Monday afternoon before going to sleep, she said. “But they did not wake up.”
Family members said that the bodies will be taken to the Jamalpur for the burials.
Police said that the family has not filed any case over the deaths until Tuesday afternoon.
Rampura police OC Rafikul Islam said that they had detained the manager, an employee and the cook of the restaurant where the children went on Sunday.