Case filed nearly a year after Riya Gope's killing in N’ganj during July uprising

Police have filed a murder case nearly one year after six-year-old Riya Gope was shot and killed during the July uprising in Narayanganj city last year.

Sub-Inspector Rayhan of Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station filed the case as the plaintiff on Tuesday.

Nasir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Sadar Model Police Station, said that efforts are underway to identify those involved using photographs and video footage from the day of the incident.

According to the case statement, on 19 July last year, a group of 150 to 200 unidentified individuals, allegedly affiliated with the Awami League, opened fire and hurled explosives at protestors. At the time, Riya Gope was playing on the rooftop of their five-storey home behind Gulshan Cinema Hall in the city. She sustained a gunshot injury to the head. 

She was initially taken to Narayanganj General Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she died on 24 July following a surgery.

Although Riya's family had initially intended to file a case, they ultimately refrained from doing so. Now, the police have taken the initiative to file the case.

Explaining their reluctance, Riya's mother, Beauty Ghosh, said, "What will come of filing a case? Who would we even file it against? We don't know who killed Riya. We've left the matter to God's judgment."

Riya was the only child of Beauty Ghosh and Dipak Kumar Gope, a shop manager. According to her family, she was playing on the rooftop when gunfire erupted that day. Her father rushed to rescue her, but as he held her in his arms, a bullet struck her in the head.

On the aforesaid day, protesters took to the streets, after Jummah prayers. Notably, there was no police presence in the area at the time. 

Former Narayanganj lawmaker Shamim Osman and his supporters allegedly took to the streets, advancing from the Chasara area towards Nayamati while opening fire. It was during this incident that Riya was reportedly shot.