Girl raped in Jhalakati launch cabin

A minor girl has allegedly been raped by a miscreant in a launch anchored at the launch terminal in Jhalakati town. Police said the victim, 14, a Class-VII student of a school in Dhaka and resident of Mir Hazirbagh in Jatrabari area in the city, eloped with her neighbour Shanta Majhi who took her to his village home at Alokdia village in Jhalakati Sadar Upazila here on Monday. However, they started for Dhaka again on Wednesday. As they reached the launch terminal in the district town around 4pm on the day, Mohammad Arif, a fourth class employee of Souljalia union land office and son of town Jubo League leader Abdul Haque, along with accomplices took the couple to a cabin of the launch ‘MV Sundarban-2’ which was waiting at the terminal. At one stage, they drove Shanta Majhi out of the cabin. Later, Arif violated the girl. They also threatened to kill them if they disclosed the matter. Shanta Majhi filed a case against three people, including Arif, with Sadar Police Station on Thursday. As police produced the victim before a local court on the day, it sent her to Safe Home, according to UNB.
- biplab