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Violation of woman in Noakhali

Rapists will be brought to justice: Quader

Prime accused among three held; NHRC, ASK teams visit victim


January 03, 2019 00:00:00


Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the government will take firm action against an alleged post-election rape by party activists in Noakhali and added that none of the perpetrators would be spared, reports bdnews24.com.

The AL leader called the incident reprehensible and said the culprits would be punished accordingly.

"No-one involved in this will be spared," said Quader. "I know the prime minister's stance on this.

I have already spoken to the police IG [Inspector General] and the military personnel deployed in that area are also investigating the matter seriously and the local administration will be swift in its action."

"The government has a firm stance on this. Whoever is responsible must face punishment."

The 40-year-old woman, being treated at Noakhali Sadar Hospital, told reporters that a gang of 10-12 men broke into their home in Subornachar Upazila on the night following the general election on Sunday.

The men reportedly tied up the woman's husband and their school-going daughter inside the house and dragged the woman outside to take turns in raping her.

The woman, who was also severely beaten, said the attack followed an argument she had with ruling AL supporters at a voting centre in Charjubili Union during the day of the general election.

Local AL leaders have denied the allegation against them. "Ten to 12 men, including Mosharraf, Salahuddin and Sohel, began breaking down our doors and windows. They came in and beat me up severely," said her husband.

"We were tied up inside the house while my wife was taken outside and gang-raped. They also beat her severely."

Neighbours helped them to bring to the the Noakhali Sadar Hospital. Doctors there said the couple had suffered multiple wounds.

Nine people have been named in the case filed over the incident. Police say they have arrested three suspects and are 'trying to catch the others'.

Meanwhile, detectives have arrested two people, including the prime accused, over the 'gang-rape' of a woman at Charbajuli village in Subarnachar upazila after Sunday's election.

The arrestees are prime accused Sohel, son of late Ismail, and Md Swapan, 35, son of late Abdul Mannan of Madhya Bagya village in Subarnachar.

Superintendent of Police of the district Md Ilias Sharif said a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Sohel from a brickfield in Maheshpur of Barura upazila in Cumilla on Wednesday noon and another team of Noakhali DB picked Swapan up from Sluicegate area in Ramgati upazila of Laxmipur on Tuesday night.

With this, three people have so far been arrested in connection with the 'gang-rape' of the woman.

Earlier, police arrested Badsha Alam from Charbajuli on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a three-member team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), led by its director (complaint and investigation) Al Mahmud Faizul Karim, visited the victim at Noakhali General Hospital on Wednesday and took her deposition.

Talking to reporters, Faizul said they will submit their report to the NHRC after collecting medical reports.

Besides, a three-member team of rights body Ain O Salish Kendra visited the hospital and the spot.

Khandaker Golam Faruque, deputy inspector general of Chattogram range, also went to the victim's house and talked to locals.

He said no one will be spared over the incident.

Meanwhile, Dr Syed Mohiuddin Abdul Azim, medical officer of the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital, said a two-member medical team has been formed for conducting the test on the victim.

He also said they primarily found the evidence of rape.

According to the victim's husband, a group of hoodlums stormed their house in the early hours of Monday and tied up all the family members except his wife.


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