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Rape probe not getting help from cops
[Bangla Daily Star] An independent team of investigators from Dhaka probing the abduction and rape of a class VII schoolgirl in Kalapara yesterday alleged that the local police refused to collaborate with them.Police officer Kabir Hossain who rescued the victim in the early hours of September 26 was meanwhile transferred to Patuakhali Police Reserve office. Patuakhali Superintendent of Police (SP) Saibal Kanti Chowdhury said that the transfer was done as per the wish of Kabir, an assistant sub-inspector. The team from Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) comprising two lawyers and two senior investigators said that they were denied access by the Kalapara police to general diaries (GDs), statements of the victim and her relatives and police logs during the events of September 25, when the juvenile was abducted and raped by a gang of youths. Team leader of the investigators Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir said that as per law the police are under legal obligation to produce the documents to investigators to facilitate the probe in order to unearth facts. "Police alibi about the timing of rescue of the victim and other events following the incident were also extremely confusing," said the team leader. Kalapara police's role in the sensational incident came under question from the very beginning when they failed to lodge any case or arrest anyone in this connection allegedly under the pressure from the local ruling party high-ups present there at the time. On September 27, the alleged rapists were summoned to appear at a local high school along with their parents and punished by a jury of arbitrators comprising local ruling party leaders and activists. All the 16 rapists and accomplices were fined Tk 10,000 each. They were released after they were beaten as prescribed by the arbitrators. The family of the victim was provided with the money realised as fines by the leaders on condition that they remained silent about the fact of that night. Posted by: Fred 2009-10-07 |
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