Locals in a village under Phulbari upazila, Kurigram brought out a procession on Monday demanding immediate arrest of a fellow villager accused of raping an underage girl.
The accused, named Rizu, 37, allegedly raped the 12-year-old, who is physically challenged and lives with her maternal grandmother in Pashchim Panimachhkuthi village, on Saturday – the day of Eid-ul-Azha, Phulbari police told the Dhaka Tribune.
The victim's father has filed a case in this regard, said Khandakar Fuad Ruhani, OC at Phulbari police station.
Neighbours and sources close to the victim's family said on the evening of Eid, her 65-year-old grandmother and other family members were watching TV in the room next to the victim's when Rizu, who is a father of two, allegedly sneaked into her room and assaulted her.
Her grandmother was alerted by her scream and rushed to her room to find that Rizu had fled the scene.
The victim was seriously injured by the attack, but her family said they could not immediately take her to a hospital because of Rizu's family.
“His [Rizu's] family are notorious for their vengeful nature. They laid siege to our house and tried to convince us to keep this incident under wrap. I was afraid of them,” said the child's grandmother.
But as the victim's condition deteriorated on Sunday, the villagers, with the help of local Union Parishad Member Abdul Latif, intervened and took her to Phulbari Upazila Health Complex, where she is currently undergoing treatment.
Her father filed the case against Rizu on Monday amid a protest by the villagers in Phulbari Sadar area demanding exemplary punishment for the accused.
Phulbari OC Fuad Ruhani said police were making a serious effort to arrest Rizu.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
